Failure to Prevent Elopement and Implement Fall Prevention Interventions
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure an environment free from accident hazards and to provide adequate supervision and assistive devices to prevent accidents, including elopement and falls. One cognitively impaired resident with known exit-seeking behavior was allowed to elope from the facility without staff awareness, and multiple residents at risk for falls did not have care-planned fall prevention interventions consistently implemented. The elopement resident had a BIMS score of 6 indicating severe cognitive impairment, diagnoses including dementia, and a documented history of exit-seeking and wandering behaviors. The resident had an electronic alert band ordered and applied due to exit-seeking behavior, and the care plan identified the resident as at risk for elopement with an intervention to utilize an electronic alert band. Despite this, the resident was last seen in bed around 2:15–2:30 a.m. and subsequently left the building through the front door without staff knowledge. Police found the resident walking alone on a nearby street and returned the resident to the facility around 3:36 a.m., at which time staff documented that the facility had been unaware the resident had left. Staff interviews and observations revealed that the electronic alert system did not function effectively as an audible warning at the nurse’s station. A CNA reported not hearing any alarm when the resident exited, explaining that the sound of the alarm was located between a set of double doors and could not be heard when those doors were closed. The CNA confirmed that the last time she saw the resident, the resident was in bed with eyes closed and appeared to be sleeping. A former LPN stated she only became aware of the elopement when police arrived at the front desk and informed her that the resident had been found outside the facility. The administrator confirmed that the root cause of the elopement was that the electronic alert alarms could not be heard at the nurse’s station and acknowledged that when the system was initially tested, staff only checked the alarm audibility while standing between the double doors, and no one had checked whether the alarm could be heard outside those doors. The social services director confirmed that the resident’s elopement risk care plan had been initiated months earlier due to comments about wanting to leave and wandering behavior, and acknowledged that the interventions in place were not effective since the resident was able to elope. The facility also failed to implement fall prevention interventions as care-planned for several residents at risk for falls and dependent on staff for transfers. One resident with diagnoses including CHF, Type 2 DM, and dependence on enabling machines and devices had an MDS indicating dependence for sit-to-stand and toilet transfers, and a care plan requiring two staff and use of a total body (Hoyer) lift for transfers. Despite this, a CNA was observed transferring this resident from a wheelchair to a toilet using a stand lift alone, and she acknowledged that two staff should perform the transfer but stated she proceeded alone due to short staffing. The restorative nurse and PTA confirmed that if a resident is care-planned for two-person mechanical lift transfers, that plan must be followed for safety. Additional residents at risk for falls were observed with their beds at waist height despite care-planned interventions requiring beds to be maintained in the lowest appropriate position. One resident with hemiplegia and hemiparesis, dependent on staff for transfers and identified as at risk for falls, had a care plan specifying mechanical lift for transfers and ensuring the bed is in the lowest position. During observation, this resident was found lying in a bed at waist height. When questioned, the LPN confirmed the resident was a mechanical lift transfer and acknowledged that the bed was elevated to waist height and should be in the lowest position for safety. Another resident with paraplegia, dependent on staff for chair/bed transfers and at risk for falls, also had a care plan intervention to ensure the bed is in the lowest position. This resident was likewise observed in a bed at waist height, and the LPN confirmed the bed height. The DON stated that beds are to be in low position but noted that some residents prefer higher beds and do not allow staff to lower them, indicating that care-planned fall prevention interventions were not consistently maintained as required by facility policy and resident care plans.
Removal Plan
- Reassessed R75 for elopement risk after the elopement occurred and determined resident remained an elopement risk.
- Located R75 and returned resident to the facility.
- Completed a head-to-toe assessment for R75 with no signs of injury noted.
- Updated R75’s care plan to address the elopement event.
- Notified R75’s family member and Primary Care Physician/Medical Director of the elopement.
- Reviewed facility policies related to the occurrence (Elopement, Routine Resident Checks, Incidents/Accidents, Alarms, electronic alert band, Wanderers, Changes in Condition).
- Updated the Wanderguard policy to include considering alternative interventions in the event of equipment failure (e.g., room change to a more secure floor).
- Updated assessments and care plans for residents at risk for elopement.
- Placed R75 on 1:1 supervision pending move to a more secured unit.
- Moved the only other resident requiring electronic monitoring to a higher/more secured unit.
- Reassessed all residents for elopement risk.
- Implemented a process that all new admissions will have an elopement risk assessment completed per MDS schedule (within 7 days of admission, annually, and as needed).
- Reviewed and updated care plans for residents identified at risk for elopement on admission.
- Placed pictures of at-risk residents in binders at all nursing stations and the receptionist desk.
- Evaluated at-risk residents with active exit-seeking behaviors for possible room change to a more secured unit to limit access to the front entrance door.
- Evaluated at-risk residents to determine whether an electronic monitoring bracelet is appropriate.
- Conducted staff interviews to identify further potential risk.
- Conducted Code drills on all shifts to assess staff knowledge and preparedness.
- Reeducated all staff and managers on routine resident checks, exit seeking, incidents/accidents, elopement policy/procedure, and location of elopement-risk binders.
- Administered staff competency quizzes on elopement.
- Reeducated staff and managers on elopement risk and reporting behaviors/changes related to elopement risk to the appropriate discipline.
- Reeducated reception staff on monitoring front doors, resident safety, and proper Code Green procedure.
- Educated all staff on the electronic monitoring system.
- Implemented monitoring of exit doors by staff when unalarmed.
- Assigned receptionist to monitor the front entrance door.
- Required the receptionist to arm the door and required first-floor nurses to monitor the door when the receptionist is not present.
- Implemented alarm panel checks with a signed monitoring sheet by first-floor staff to ensure door alarms are activated when doors are not monitored by staff.
- Implemented weekly checks of exterior door alarms by the Maintenance Director and EVS Supervisor to ensure alarms are working and doors are secured.
- Met with R75’s daughter to discuss and implement new interventions.
- Initiated a work order to add an annunciator panel to the first-floor nurses station to amplify the alarm.
- Added elopement training to annual abuse training to ensure staff knowledge of elopement plans.
- Started QAA compliance audits using an elopement and door-check audit tool with review at monthly QAPI meetings.
- Assigned IDT members to complete audits and submit them to the Administrator for oversight of completion.
- Started review of audit results regarding elopement and door alarm working condition with the IDT with review at monthly QAPI.
- Implemented an Administrator daily audit to confirm the exterior front door alarm is activated each day by the receptionist prior to leaving.
- Added to new-hire orientation education on elopement and administration of competency quizzes.
- Established that the facility Quality Assurance Team/IDT will meet at least monthly to review elopement-risk residents, trends/patterns, and implement action steps.
- Held an emergency QA meeting with the IDT and Medical Director to discuss the elopement and approve the Removal Plan.
- Assigned ongoing monitoring of the Removal Plan to the Administrator, DON, ADON, and Social Services.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Surveyors found that the facility failed to keep the environment free of accident hazards when a resident’s room contained an unattended shaving razor on the sink and additional razors in a nightstand, despite leadership stating razors were not permitted in resident rooms. An LPN disposed of unused lancets in regular trash instead of a sharps container, contrary to acknowledged policy. On two occasions, an unattended housekeeping cart on an upper floor had germicidal wipes left on top and easily accessible, even though housekeeping leadership and staff stated that chemicals and disinfectant wipes were to be kept locked in the cart for safety.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, a history of falls, and dependence on staff for transfers was observed using a lift reclining chair even though the care plan and physical device review did not identify that device. Therapy staff lowered the chair and placed the remote next to the call light on the resident’s lap, and staff stated they were not aware of any formal assessment for safe use of the lift chair. The DON stated the resident should have had an assessment to determine whether she was safe to have the lift chair.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia with behavioral disturbances, and fall risk interventions in place was transferred by staff using methods that did not match the care plan and Kardex. Staff used a transfer belt for some transfers, then later used a Hoyer lift from mattresses on the floor to a wheelchair, but used a green sling even though the resident required a yellow sling based on weight. The RN, LPN, DON, and PT verified the resident’s transfer status and sling instructions were not updated to reflect current needs.
A resident with nicotine dependence was care planned as a smoker who could go out to smoke at designated times or with family, with an intervention that a smoking evaluation be completed quarterly. The last documented smoking safety evaluation showed the resident could safely smoke with supervision, but no additional evaluations were completed for several months, contrary to facility policy requiring smoking assessments at admission, readmission, with significant change, and quarterly by a licensed nurse, even though the resident continued to smoke under staff and family supervision in the courtyard.
Failure to supervise smokers and secure smoking materials. Surveyors found that 27 smokers were not adequately monitored and that residents were able to keep cigarettes and lighters in their possession despite care plan directions to return them after smoking. One resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, schizophrenia, and continuous oxygen use was observed with cigarettes and a lighter while on oxygen, and staff confirmed she was an unsafe smoker requiring direct supervision.
Code Alert System Failed to Prevent Resident Elopement: The facility failed to keep the code alert system functioning as intended and did not follow the manufacturer’s weekly testing and inspection guidance. Two residents with significant cognitive impairment were able to get through the main doors, and one resident exited the building before staff followed outside. The report also states that multiple residents with code alert devices did not have adequate elopement or wandering assessments and care plan interventions, and several attempts to leave were not documented in the record.
Failure to Control Razors, Sharps, and Chemical Wipes Creating Accident Hazards
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain an environment as free of accident hazards as possible and to provide adequate supervision and safe handling of potentially hazardous items. On one floor, a shaving razor was observed on the sink in a resident’s room. When questioned, the resident stated the razor on the sink was not his and showed the surveyor separate razors he kept in his nightstand. The resident’s record showed admission with malignant neoplasm of overlapping sites of the bladder and care plans for ADL self-care deficits related to activity intolerance, generalized muscle weakness, bladder cancer, and a history of gross hematuria, with interventions including encouraging and assisting with bathing, personal hygiene, and oral care. Facility leadership, including the ADON, Administrator/Risk Manager, and DON, stated that residents were not allowed to keep shaving razors in their rooms and that razors were to be kept in the supply room. Additional observations showed that staff did not consistently follow safe disposal practices for sharps and did not secure chemical products as required by facility policy. An LPN performing a blood glucose check discarded unused lancets into the medication cart trash instead of a sharps container, despite acknowledging that lancets were to be disposed of in a sharps-resistant container. On two separate observations, a housekeeping cart on the second floor was left unattended with a container of germicidal wipes placed on top of the cart and easily accessible. Corporate housekeeping staff and the Housekeeping Director stated that all chemicals that could harm residents should be locked in the cart’s compartment, and housekeeping staff reported that disinfectant wipes and cleaning supplies were to be kept locked in the cart for resident safety. The facility’s written “Nursing Home Accident Prevention and Safety Policy” stated a commitment to maintaining a safe, hazard-free environment and identifying and correcting safety risks promptly.
Plan Of Correction
Preparation and execution of this plan of correction does not constitute admission or agreement by the provider of the terms or conclusions set forth in the statement of deficiencies. This plan of correction is prepared and/or executed solely because it is required by provisions of the Federal and State laws. The facility continues to ensure that the resident environment remains free of accident hazards as possible. IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION Resident #29 was not adversely affected by the alleged deficient practice. Razor was immediately removed and disposed of from resident's room by nurse on 5/11/26. Germicidal wipes were immediately secured in a locked housekeeping cart on 5/11/26. Staff E was provided with 1:1 education by the Director of Nursing regarding the importance of providing an environment free from hazards and accidents with emphasis on keeping hazardous items like razor secured on 5/11/26. Staff G was provided with 1 to 1 education by House Keeping Director regarding ensuring that all housekeeping chemical products are secured in a locked housekeeping cart when not in use on 5/12/2026. IDENTIFICATION OF OTHER RESIDENTS HAVING POTENTIAL TO BE AFFECTED All active residents in the facility can potentially be affected by the alleged deficient practice. The Director of Nursing and/ designee conducted a facility-wide observation audit to ensure that hazardous items are locked and secured and that staff are disposing of Sharps in a Sharp Resistant Container on 05/15/2026. The Housekeeping Director conducted a facility-wide observation on 5/15/2026 to ensure that all housekeeping chemical products were secured and locked inside the housekeeping cart when not in use. No residents were adversely affected by the alleged deficient practice. SYSTEMATIC CHANGES Director of Nursing initiated ongoing in-service education with staff on standards of maintaining an environment free from hazards/accidents with emphasis on keeping hazardous items like razor secured and properly disposing of sharps in sharps resistant container on 5/20/26. The Housekeeping Director and/or designee initiated ongoing in-service education on standards of maintaining an environment free from hazards/accidents with emphasis on keeping housekeeping chemical products secured and locked in a housekeeping cart when not in use on 5/20/2026. MONITORING The Director of Nursing and/or designee will conduct random observation audits to ensure that hazardous items are locked and secured and sharps are disposed in sharps resistant container weekly for 3 months. The Housekeeping Director and/or designee will conduct random observation audits to ensure that housekeeping chemical products are secured and locked in a housekeeping cart weekly for 3 months. The Director of Nursing, Housekeeping Director and/or designee will report findings of observation/audits to the quality assurance committee monthly for 3 months to ensure continued substantial compliance is achieved and maintained.
Failure to Assess Safe Use of Lift Reclining Chair
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a resident was safe to have a lift reclining chair. The resident had severe cognitive impairment, lower extremity impairment on one side of the body, a history of falls, dependence on staff for transfers, and diagnoses including dementia, disorientation, anxiety, muscle weakness, and a right pubis fracture. The resident’s care plan identified high fall risk related to impaired mobility, confusion, and dementia, and directed staff to keep the call light within reach and encourage use of it. The care plan also stated the resident required two staff to assist with transfers using a standing lift as needed, but it did not identify use of a lift reclining chair. The physical device review also did not identify an electric recliner chair or other lift type reclining chair. During observation, the resident was transferred into the lift chair by therapy staff, who lowered it from an upright position to a seated and then reclining position. The remote for the lift chair and the call light were both placed on the resident’s lap next to each other. The PTA stated she was not aware of any assessment for safe use of the lift chairs, and nursing and therapy staff stated they were not aware of any formal lift chair assessment for the resident. The DON stated therapy worked with residents who had lift chairs and was not aware of any formal assessment, and later stated the resident should have had an assessment completed to determine if she was safe to have a lift chair. The DON also stated the resident was cognitively impaired and could accidentally use the lift chair remote when intending to push the call light.
Failure to Follow Transfer and Sling Size Interventions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure staff followed fall risk interventions for one resident identified as at risk for falls. The resident had severe cognitive impairment, delusions, behaviors directed at others, dementia with behavioral disturbances, anxiety, an affective disorder, diabetes, and hearing loss. The resident’s care plan and Kardex identified the resident as a fall risk and stated the resident was independent for transfers, while also noting that if a Hoyer transfer was required, a yellow/medium sling was to be used. During observation, nursing assistants transferred the resident from a wheelchair to the toilet using a transfer belt, then later transferred the resident from the wheelchair to mattresses on the floor using a transfer belt and two staff members. Staff stated they normally used a Hoyer lift to lift the resident from the mattresses on the floor, but the resident’s Kardex did not identify the mattresses on the floor or clarify when a Hoyer should be used for transfers. Staff also stated the resident was not independent with transfers and required one to two staff for wheelchair-to-toilet transfers and two staff with a Hoyer for transfers to and from the mattresses on the floor. On a later observation, two nursing assistants used a Hoyer lift to transfer the resident from the mattresses on the floor to a wheelchair, but used a green sling even though the resident weighed 155 pounds and the manufacturer’s chart indicated a yellow sling was required. Staff stated the green sling was too big for the resident and that the correct sling size was important for safety. The RN, LPN, DON, and PT all verified that the resident’s care plan and Kardex were not revised to reflect the resident’s current transfer abilities and the correct sling size and transfer method for the resident’s current setup.
Failure to Complete Required Quarterly Smoking Safety Assessments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure resident safety related to smoking by not completing required smoking safety assessments at the prescribed frequency for one resident. A resident with a diagnosis that included nicotine dependence was observed smoking in the courtyard with his daughter present, and later in the presence of Activities staff who remained outside with the residents while they smoked. The resident’s care plan, dated 2/4/25, identified him as a smoker who could go out to smoke at designated times or with family and specified that a smoking evaluation would be completed quarterly. Record review showed the most recent Smoking Safety Evaluation had been completed on 11/6/24 and indicated the resident could safely smoke with supervision, but no further evaluations were completed until 4/30/26, despite facility policy requiring smoking assessments upon admission, readmission, with significant change, and quarterly by a licensed nurse.
Failure to Supervise Smokers and Secure Smoking Materials
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adequately supervise 27 identified smokers and failed to secure resident smoking materials, including lighters and cigarettes. Surveyors found that the facility’s smoking policy required smoking-related privileges, restrictions, and concerns to be documented in the care plan and communicated to personnel, and required residents with restricted smoking privileges to be monitored under direct supervision while smoking. Resident #15 was observed sitting up in bed with oxygen in use, and later was observed on the smoking patio sitting in a wheelchair with a plastic bag containing cigarettes and a lighter in her lap. Staff confirmed she was identified as an unsafe smoker and required a smoking apron while smoking. Her record showed severe cognitive impairment with a BIMS score of 6, diagnoses including dementia and schizophrenia, and continuous oxygen at 2 liters per minute via nasal cannula for COPD. Review of the records for all 27 smokers showed care plan interventions requiring them to return smoking materials to the Activities Department after re-entering the building from the smoking patio. Interviews with the Activity Director, LPN, MDS staff, CNA, DON, Administrator, and Medical Director showed conflicting descriptions of where smoking materials were kept, but multiple staff acknowledged that residents kept cigarettes and lighters in their possession and that residents were expected to turn them in after smoking. The Medical Director stated residents were not permitted to keep cigarettes or lighters and that residents with low BIMS scores or those receiving oxygen should not have access to smoking materials.
Code Alert System Failed to Prevent Resident Elopement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the code alert system used for residents at risk for elopement was functioning properly and failed to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for weekly testing and inspection. The report states that the immediate jeopardy began when R12 was able to exit the building after the main entrance code alert system malfunctioned, and that R19 was also able to get through the main doors because the doors did not lock as required by the system. The manufacturer’s binder in the facility called for weekly testing of the code alert units, regular testing of each detection zone, and quarterly service inspections, but the facility’s logs showed the doors were being tested monthly instead of weekly. R19 was severely cognitively impaired with Alzheimer’s disease. The resident’s assessment identified low elopement risk, and the care plan lacked interventions for elopement and wandering. During observation, R19 wheeled to the main entrance, went through the first door into the vestibule, and the alarm sounded, but the door did not lock. A nursing assistant responded and redirected R19 back to the central TV area. The resident’s progress note did not include the attempt to leave the building. R12 was severely cognitively impaired with non-Alzheimer’s dementia and anxiety. The resident had repeated attempts to leave the facility, but the care plan lacked elopement and wandering interventions, and the most recent assessment also identified low elopement risk with the door alarm band not selected. During observations, R12 repeatedly approached the main entrance, triggered the alarm, and was able to get through the first door into the vestibule; on one occasion R12 exited the building before being followed outside by staff. The report also states that R12’s record lacked documentation of the successful exit and other attempts to leave. In addition, the facility failed to adequately assess and develop care plans for multiple other residents assigned code alert devices, including residents with severe or moderate cognitive impairment and diagnoses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, whose care plans did not include elopement or wandering interventions or, in some cases, the location of the device.
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