Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** This deficiency pertains to Facility Reported Incident (FRI) 2631248Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to implement interventions and physician recommendations/orders to prevent one Resident (#1) with a known history of elopement of three residents reviewed for elopement from eloping from the facility. This deficient practice resulted in an immediate jeopardy when Resident #1 eloped from the facility and was found 1.2 miles away and was missing for approximately 2 hours, resulting in the likelihood of series injury, harm or death.Findings include:The Immediate Jeopardy began at 12:16 p.m. on 9/28/25 when R1 eloped from the facility undetected and was reported by a facility staff member to be located at a fast-food restaurant, 1.2 miles away at 2:10 pm. The Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) was notified of the immediate jeopardy on 10/8/25 at 2:10 PM. At that time, an immediacy removal plan was requested from the facility. This surveyor confirmed by observation, interview, and record review that the immediacy was removed on 10/8/25 at 4:06 p.m., however, noncompliance remained at the potential for more than minimal harm due to sustained compliance which has not been verified by the State Agency (SA).Resident #1 (R1)Review of Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE], revealed admission to the facility on 4/7/25, with active diagnoses that included: Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration (an eye disease that damages the macula [part of the eye for sharp, central vision], causing blurry or distorted central vision). Further review of MDS Section B1000 Vision revealed R1 vision is severely impaired with no vision or sees only light, colors or shapes; eyes to not appear to follow objects. R1 scored a 4 of 15 on the Brief Interview for Mental Status reflective of severe cognitive impairment.Review of the Facility Reported Incident (FRI) submitted to the SA included an Incident Summary read in part, .R1 was found not to be in the facility.he went out when a family member came into the facility. Investigation Summary/Actions Taken.At approximately 1:13 p.m. on 9/28/25, Administrator was called by charge nurse.who stated that R1 could not be found in the facility.the facility has been checked and R1 was not in the building.at 2:10 p.m. the resident has been found at [fast food restaurant] 1.2 miles away from the facility.the Director of Nursing (DON) and Administrator reviewed the cameras after the event and noticed that the resident was playing with the door code earlier in the day.Views of the camera showed that he waited for a family member to come in the door to sneak out of the facility.he did walk around.before leaving the facility premises.Review of google maps revealed R1 would have crossed multiple streets and likely walked along a busy highway to gain entrance into the fast-food restaurant located next to the highway. The fast-food restaurant is also located near a very large lake with an average surface temperature in late September of approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit.Review of the Elopement [R1] Incident Timeline dated 9/28/25, read in part .12:16 p.m. a residents family entered the facility in the Northeast entrance. R1 seen them come in and he immediately went to the door and got outside. nobody seen him go out.12:59 p.m. Certified Nurse's Assistant (CNA) went to check on resident and realized he was not there.at 2:10 PM Staff Member D found resident at [fast food restaurant].Review of Incident Report titled Elopement dated 9/28/25, read in part . Nursing Description: Resident waited for a family member enter the building so that he could exit the building.He was seen on [video] camera playing with the door code at 11:35 a.m.No witnesses to that.During an interview on 10/7/25 at 12:28 p.m., the NHA reported I don't know how he made it to the [fast food restaurant], he can't see. I had 40 people looking all over the [city name] looking for him.he wants to get out of here and go to another facility.he does not want to be here, especially since his wife died.she died just before he eloped from here.During a phone interview on 10/7/25 at 1:04 p.m., family member [daughter] A reported He has talked about leaving the facility prior to the elopement.he left that day and he just didn't want to be there since mom died.During an interview on 10/7/25 at 1:15 p.m., CNA B reported He was grieving since his wife passed.he always talked about leaving and going to the city where he used to live [50 miles away].he has gone to the doors before.I worked that day and went to his room to check on him and he was gone.he left the facility and was found a mile or so away.During an observation on 10/7/25 at 1:27 p.m., the Northeast exit door was noted to be across from the dining room.During an observation on 10/7/25 at 1:33 p.m., the NHA replayed the video camera footage which revealed R1 walked out of the dining room and exited the northeast exit door after other visitors entered. R1 walked outside of the fence and then walked across the parking lot towards the street.During an interview on 10/7/25 at 2:40 p.m., R1 stated I wanted to get out of here and I did. I will try again, and they will not find me.I don't want to be here.Review of R1's physician progress notes revealed the following entries:5/21/25, read in part .[R1] Resides in the memory care unit. He greatly benefits from this environment due to poor safety awareness and wandering.6/29/25, read in part .He was admitted to the memory care unit on 4/7/25. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in March of 2025.Review of R1's progress notes revealed the following entries:7/1/25, read in part .Room change.Reason: resident to move on main nursing floor. The progress note did not indicate R1 did not meet the criteria for being in the memory care unit or the reason why he was taken out of the memory care unit.7/5/25, read in part R1.said he wanted to get out of here.he was very upset and said he wanted to go home. 7/6/25, read in part .Resident went out the south exit door. CNA went out to get him.he came back in the Northeast exit door.Review of document titled Elopement Risk Assessment dated 7/7/25, read in part .total score elopement risk.total score of 21 [out of 24] .if total score is above 10 indicates need for care planning .Review of R1's care plan revealed no care planning was completed regarding elopement risk.During an interview on 10/8/25 at 10:49 a.m., the NHA reported There was no investigation or incident/accident report when R1 exited the facility on 7/6/25.there was no care plan or interventions put in place after he exited facility on 7/6/25. During a follow-up interview at 11:08 a.m., the NHA reported There was no care plan in place after the elopement assessment was completed on 7/7/25.we missed it, and I don't know why.Review of physician progress revealed the following entries: 7/11/25, read in part .Noted to be pacing up and down hall, approaching nurses' station to inquire about.getting back home.He is repetitive with his thoughts and is noted to be wandering/pacing in the halls.7/21/25, read in part .R1 requested to be moved back into the secure memory unit.Review of R1's progress notes revealed the following:7/25/25, read in part ID (interdisciplinary) team met for weekly meeting Admin (NHA), wound care nurse, AD (Activity Director), SWD (Social Worker Designee), RD (Registered Dietician), NP (Nurse Practitioner), and DON (Director of Nursing) in attendance. Resident has been having increased behaviors and exit seeking.8/5/25, read in part .Resident walked out Northeast exit door.During an interview on 10/8/25 at 10:49 a.m., the NHA reported There was no investigation or incident/accident report when R1 exited the facility on 8/5/25.there was no care plan or interventions put in place after he exited the facility on 8/5/26. We did not have a care plan for him regarding elopement or elopement risk until after the elopement on 9/28/25.Review of policy titled Comprehensive Care Plans date reviewed/revised 3/25/25, read in part .It is the policy of this facility to develop and implement a comprehensive person centered care plan for each resident.that includes measurable objectives and timeframes to meet a residents medical, nursing, mental and psychosocial needs and all services that are identified.and meet professional standards of quality.the comprehensive care plan will be reviewed and revised by the interdisciplinary team.alternative interventions will be documented as needed.Review of policy titled Resident Elopement read in part .It is the policy of this facility that all residents will be assessed for behaviors or conditions that put them at risk for elopement. All resident so identified will have these issues addressed in their individual care plan.Residents at risk for elopement shall be identified and documented in the individual plan of care.Review of R1's social worker notes revealed the following entries: 8/12/25, read in part .left message with residents Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA) related to possibly moving resident to the secured unit. 8/18/25, read in part .spoke with residents DPOA and she gave consent for resident to reside in the memory care unit.related to safety issues, she will sign a new consent if necessary.During an interview on 10/8/25 at 1:43 p.m., the NHA reported The facility did not formally move R1 to the memory care unit after his previous attempts of eloping from the facility.he went back there [to the memory care unit] a couple times to take a break from being with his wife who was declining in health, however he did not meet the criteria to be in the memory care unit.Review of facility document titled [Facility name] Memory Care Unit-Consent Form revealed the DPOA signed the consent form on 4/7/25.Review of policy titled Memory Care Unit read in part .It is the policy of this facility to provide holistic are to those residents affected with.Alzheimer's disease by providing a.safe environment.criteria is identified on the Memory Care Unit Consent Form that is signed on admission.admission Criteria 1. Individual must have diagnosis of .Alzheimer's Disease.2. Individual must be able to .b. be up in a chair.or ambulate.3. Individual must be assessed to have moderate to severe cognitive impairment.4. The individual requires no more support than 1 person assisting with transfers.Review of MDS revealed R1 did meet the criteria to stay in the Memory Care Unit based on the criteria above.Review of social work note dated 9/8/25, read in part .Spoke with the residents DPOA and she believes his dementia is progressing.Review of physician progress note dated 9/26/25, read in part .adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood: R1 wife passed away very recently .He is noted to have some increased sadness and agitation.Review of R1's progress notes revealed the following entries:9/27/25, read in part .He is upset because he is here and is just here to die.9//28/25, read in part .He was in the dining room for lunch and came up missing.staff searched the whole building and outside premises for him. DPOA/daughter was called.DPOA states she figured this would happen because of [wife's] passing.he had $100 dollars in his wallet and he is very [NAME] and is probably on his way to try to get to [hometown city approximately 50 miles away].the DPOA was going to call neighbors and friends.to be on the lookout for him.This nurse went out and walked close by streets to try and find resident. Then this nurse got in her truck and rode around.Review of policy titled Resident Elopement read in part .Definitions.for the purpose of this policy, missing resident shall be defined to mean a resident who has left the facility grounds.all residents shall be reviewed for safety concerns.The Immediate Jeopardy which began on 9/28/25 was removed on 10/8/25 at 4:06 p.m. when the facility took the following actions to remove the immediacy. The Facility Removal Plan read:R #1 is safe and residing in the Memory Care Neighborhood, a secured unit. No physical injury, mental anguish, harm or painR #1 Elopement Assessment has been updated, and a care plan has been developed, with appropriate interventions.All residents have an Elopement Assessment. All were audited to ensure that if they have a score higher than 10, that they will; have a care plan in place with appropriate interventions. All are completed. All staff have reviewed and signed a copy of the Facility Elopement Policy. The Director of Nursing, or designee will audit all new admissions for elopement risk and ensure appropriate interventions are in placeThe Director of Nursing, or designee will audit residents, based on MDS schedule, to ensure Elopement Assessment is completed and appropriate interventions are in place. The Director of Nursing was educated to review Elopement Assessments to ensure that proper care plan interventions are in ace, based on the MDS schedule and admissions. The Northeast door code has been changed and only staff are allowed to have this code. All visitors and staff must enter and exit the facility through the front lobby only. All DPOA's and Emergency contacts will be contacted today to let them now of the change. Signage will also be posted. Staff education has been sent regarding these changes and to ensure they do not give out the cede to the Northeast door and that they all use the front lobby to enter and exit. If they hear the alarm o off, they need to remind the visitor to use the front lobby door, or if they cannot identify who set the alarm off, they need to call a code missing person and start a headcount. All physician orders and physician progress notes have been reviewed for R #1 and have been placed. Resident is utilizing nonpharmacological interventions, residing in the memory care unit, and on antidepressant medications, per Behavioral Care Solutions recommendations. The Director of Nursing and Administrator consulted with [physician name], our Medical Director, who has no concerns at this time that we have not followed any of his recommendations on any other residents. He does not have any concerns at this time with any resident risk of elopement, safety, or wandering.