Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review conduced during the Recertification survey from 1/6/2025 to 1/14/2025, the facility did not ensure a resident diagnosed with dementia, received the appropriate treatment and services to attain or maintain their highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being. This was evident for 1 (Resident #30) of 2 residents reviewed for Dementia Care and 1 (Resident #122) of 1 resident(s) reviewed for Activities. Specifically, 1) treatment of Resident #30's dementia and related behaviors did not include a person-centered individualized approach or meaningful activities to address the resident's customary routines and preferences, and 2) there was no evidence Resident #122's plan of care included meaningful activities that enhanced the resident's wellbeing.
The findings are:
The facility policy titled Dementia Care of Resident dated 2/2024 documented restlessness in people with dementia gets worse at the end of the day. Increase daytime activities, discourage inactivity and napping, turn on lights and minimize shadows to diminish confusion, and be aware that sleeping pills may solve one problem but cause more confusion the next day.
The facility policy titled Reflection Group dated 9/2023 documented Nursing, Activities, and Social Service recommended residents for the reflection program based on cognitive deficits, ability to benefit from structured groups, and history of behaviors. Activities must be facilitated by dedicated staff who have been educated in caring for residents with cognitive deficits and familiar with dementia care practices. Activities include arts and crafts, light physical exercise, reminiscence therapy, games, and sensory stimulation. Activity planning should include input from residents and families.
1) Resident #30 had diagnoses of unspecified dementia and anxiety disorder.
The Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] documented Resident #30 was severely cognitively impaired, did not display any mood or behavior symptoms, found it very important to listen to music, be around animals, go outside for fresh air, and participate in religious services. Resident #30 also found it somewhat important to participate in their favorite activities and do things with groups of people.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to cognitive deficits initiated 10/28/2022 and last reviewed by the Director of Social Work on 11/7/2024 documented Resident #390 had altered thought process related to dementia and interventions included therapeutic activities.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to psychosocial wellbeing/inability to cope initiated 10/28/2022 and last reviewed by the Director of Social Work on 11/7/2024 documented Resident #30 was unable to cope with life's demands and aging process and had periods of restless behavior. Interventions included engaging Resident #30 in recreational activities after identifying their daily routines prior to admission.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to behavior symptoms initiated 11/12/2022 and last reviewed 11/22/2024 documented Resident #30 had a diagnosis of dementia without behavioral disturbance and exhibited restless behavior. Crawling, screaming, and physical agitation. Interventions included providing Resident #30 with a private room, social service evaluation, knee pads to bilateral knees to address behavior of crawling on the floor, and identifying a pattern of behavior.
The Activities Note dated 11/2/2024 documented Resident #30 refused to attend group program. Staff offered music therapy, sensory hour, and ice cream day.
The Weekly Behavior Note dated 12/20/2024 documented Resident #30 did not display any behaviors.
The Weekly Behavior Note dared 12/27/2024 documented Resident #30 screamed occasionally from their room.
The Weekly Behavior Note dated 1/2/2025 documented no behavior was exhibited by Resident #30.
The Physician's Orders initiated 11/28/2022 and renewed 12/25/2024 documented Resident #30 was ordered bilateral knee pads in the morning to be removed at bedtime because the resident was crawling on the floor. Starting 11/27/2024 and renewed 12/25/2024, Resident #30 was ordered to be out of bed to a high-back reclining wheelchair with a cushion and bilateral leg rests. Resident #30 was ordered to receive donepezil 10mg every evening for unspecified dementia, trazodone 50 mg at bedtime for major depressive disorder, memantine 20 mg at bedtime for vascular dementia, quetiapine 12.5 mg twice daily for anxiety disorder, and escitalopram 20 mg daily for depressive episodes.
The Medical Doctor Note dated 12/24/2024 documented Resident #30 had no new complaints and tolerated their medication well. Resident #30 had a history of dementia, received trazodone, Namenda, donepezil, quetiapine, and sertraline, and was followed by Psychiatry.
The Psychiatry Consult dated 12/29/2024 documented Resident #30 was stable with no signs of psychiatric decompensation and a recommendation to decrease the frequency of Resident #30's quetiapine 12.5 mg from twice daily to once daily at bedtime.
The Social Work Note dated 1/4/2025 documented Resident #30 had a Psychiatry Consult and it was recommended for frequency of quetiapine 12.5 mg to be decreased to once daily at bedtime.
The Medication Regimen Review dated 1/6/2025 documented consider tapering Resident #30's quetiapine from twice daily to once daily as per Psychiatry Consult recommendation.
On 1/06/2025 at 9:30 AM, Resident #30 was observed with the upper half of their body in their bed and the lower half of their body hanging off the bed and onto a floor mattress at bedside. Resident #30's window screen was torn and the lighting above the sink in the room was dim and produced glare because 1 light socket did not have a lightbulb, and the light fixture cover was missing.
On 1/6/2025 at 11:13 AM, Transporter #23 was observed in the 3rd Floor Dayroom with 15 residents. Transporter #23 engaged residents by playing music from the television and telling them to lift their arms up and down repeatedly. At 11:14 AM, Transporter #43 entered the room and Transporter #23 ended their engaging interaction with the residents. Music continued playing from the television and 2 of the residents began to wander away from the group. Another resident asked, what are we doing? Where should we go? Another resident in a wheelchair began grabbing at the resident in the chair next to them and the resident in the chair became agitated and began yelling. Transporter #23 and #43 separated and provided 1-to-1 supervision to the resident who began yelling. A white erase-board on the wall documented 11:30 AM - Exercise in marker and a printed sign documented Resident Council - 12/30.
On 1/06/2025 at 11:25 AM, Resident #30 was observed fully on their floormat at bedside with a bedsheet tangled around their midsection and their sweatshirt pulled up around their neck, exposing their upper body. Resident #30 had their eyes closed and appeared to be asleep but yelled Ow! and other intelligible words intermittently.
On 1/06/2025 at 12:25 PM, Resident #30 was fully in their bed with their sweatshirt pulled back down covering them appropriately. Resident #30 appeared to be asleep with their eyes still closed but moaned and called out loudly intermittently.
On 1/06/2025 at 5:32 PM, Resident #30 was observed in their room, out of bed to a recliner with their knees pulled up to their chest in a fetal position. The resident's eyes were closed and, approximately every 30-60 seconds, Resident #30 tensed their body, thrashed in the recliner, and screamed Oh God, help me! or Mommy, please help! There was no television, music, or any other activity ongoing for Resident #30 while they were alone in their room.
On 1/10/2025 at 4:45 PM, Resident #30 was observed in the 3rd Floor Dayroom in their recliner. Resident #30's knees were pulled up into a fetal position, their left arm and shoulder were pulled out of their sweatshirt, and their upper body was awkwardly leaning so their upper body rested on the armrest of the recliner. Dinner service began and Resident #30 seemed unaware of their surroundings, howling or screaming loudly while other residents ate and causing other residents in the dining room to tell Resident #30 to shut up.
There were no observations of Resident #30 with bilateral knee pads in accordance with Physician's Orders to prevent injury when crawling on the floor.
There was no documented evidence Resident #30 was provided with meaningful activities reflective of their customary routines, interests, and preferences to enhance Resident #30's wellbeing.
There was no documented evidence person-centered, individualized, nonpharmacological interventions were developed and implemented to address Resident #30's diagnosis of dementia and related behaviors. There was no documented evidence Resident #30 had a gradual dose reduction of their quetiapine in accordance with Psychiatry recommendations.
On 1/13/2025 at 11:55 AM, the Director of Social Work was interviewed and stated they were not aware of the interventions used by the nursing staff to redirect and engage Resident #30 when they exhibited dementia-related behaviors. Resident #30's behaviors have improved. Resident #30 should be dressed appropriately if in their recliner in a public setting like the Floor Dayroom. The Director of Social Work stated they were involved in ensuring Psychiatry consult recommendations were reviewed and addressed. They communicated to the Medical Doctors when they received a final list of recommendations from the Psychiatry nurse Practitioner. The Nursing staff were responsible for informing the Medical Doctors and getting consent from the resident's family prior to making changes to a resident's medication regime. Antipsychotic medications were not prescribed to treat a dementia-related behaviors. The interdisciplinary team addressed behaviors with non-pharmacological interventions like the 3rd Floor Reflection Group.
On 1/13/2025 at 3:17 PM, Licensed Practical Nurse #21 was interviewed and stated they were working a double shift because the unit was short-staffed, and they were feeling tired. Licensed Practical Nurse #21 stated they were provided dementia inservice and training a few weeks ago. Resident #30 required total staff assistance with all activities of daily living and had bilateral floormats at bedside because of episodic crawling behavior. Licensed Practical Nurse #21 stated they were unaware of any Physician Order for Resident #30 to have bilateral knee pads during the day.
On 1/14/2025 at 9:56 AM, the Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner was interviewed and stated they were not responsible for prescribing medications and only made recommendations for medication changes to the Medical Doctors. The Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner stated they completed their consults on one day and wrote their notes and recommendations after leaving the facility. They provided a list of treatment/medication recommendations to the Director of Social Work with the understanding that the Director of Social Work would communicate the recommended changes to the Medical Doctors. The Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner stated their consult notes were also available for review in the facility's electronic medical record. Resident #30 was evaluated 12/29/2024 and the Psychiatrist Nurse Practitioner stated they recommended a gradual dose reduction of Resident #30's quetiapine from 12.5 mg twice daily to once daily. The Medical Doctors would contact the Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner to communicate with them if they disagreed with their recommendations. The Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner stated the primary care physician for Resident #30, Medical Doctor #1, had no communication with them following their consult and the Psychiatry Nurse Practitioner was unaware whether Medical Doctor #1 agreed or disagreed with their recommendations.
1/14/2025 at 11:09 AM, Registered Nurse #1 was interviewed and stated the Nurse Managers were responsible for reviewing psychiatry Consults and communicating any recommendations to the Medical Doctors. The Director of Social Work was also responsible for communicating Psychiatry recommendations to the Medical Doctors because the Director of Social Work received a list of recommendations directly from the Psychiatry Nurse practitioner following their facility visit. Nursing staff were also responsible for documenting review of the consult and communication with the Medical Doctor in a Progress Note. If the Medical Doctor disagreed with the recommendation, the Medical Doctor was responsible for documenting their decision and rationale in a Progress Note. After reviewing Resident #30's medical record, Registered Nurse #1 stated they did not see any documentation reflecting Nursing staff review of the Psychiatry consult and recommendations, communication between Nursing staff and Medical Doctor #1 that a gradual dose reduction was recommended, Medical Doctor #1's acknowledgement of Psychiatry recommendations, or a gradual dose reduction of Resident #30's quetiapine medication on the Physician's Orders. The Nurse Manager should have informed Medical Doctor #1 of the Psychiatry Consult.
On 1/14/2025 at 11:54 AM, Medical Doctor #1 was interviewed and stated they last evaluated Resident #30 on 12/24/2024 and the resident was in stable condition. Medical Doctor #1 stated the Nursing staff made them aware when there were recommendations from consulting physicians. Medical Doctor #1 stated they were unaware Resident #30 had a Psychiatry Consult on 12/29/2024 and was not informed by facility staff of consult recommendations to perform a gradual dose reduction of Resident #30's quetiapine. Medical Doctor #1 stated Resident #30 previously failed a gradual dose reduction but could not recall when the attempted dose reduction occurred. Medical Doctor #1 stated gradual dose reductions were implemented to place elderly residents with dementia on the lowest possible dose of antipsychotic medication, if any, because these medications can result in extrapyramidal side effects, lethargy, and falls.
2) Resident #122 had diagnoses of unspecified dementia without behavioral disturbance and depression.
The Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessment dated [DATE] documented Resident #122 was severely cognitively impaired and found it very important to listen to music, have books, newspapers, and magazines, do things with groups of people, participate in religious services, and do their favorite activities. The assessment dated [DATE] documented Resident #122 had highly impaired vision and was severely cognitively impaired.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to activities initiated 11/16/2023 and last reviewed 12/14/2024 documented Resident #122 was offered 1-to-1 room visits and engaged in independent activities. Interventions included providing Resident #122 with a monthly calendar, respecting the resident's right to refuse recreation programs, and providing emotional support.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to cognitive deficits initiated 11/18/2023 and last reviewed 12/19/2024 documented Resident #122 was severely cognitively impaired. Interventions to maintain Resident #122's reasoning skills included therapeutic activities, engaging in social conversation, and approaching the resident warmly and positively.
The Comprehensive Care Plan related to psychosocial wellbeing initiated 11/18/2023 and last reviewed 12/19/2024 documented Resident #122 established their own goals and interventions to ensure they were actively involved in activities included encouraging Resident #122 to express their feelings, being supportive their feelings, identifying strengths, and assisting Resident #122 with identifying likes and dislikes related to therapeutic recreation.
The Activities Note dated 12/14/2024 documented Resident #122 received 1-to-1 room visits, hand massages, music therapy, and enjoyed watching television.
Physician's Orders renewed 12/16/2024 documented Resident #122 was ordered to receive sertraline 150 mg at bedtime for depression starting 11/9/2023, mirtazapine 15 mg at bedtime for depression starting 2/5/2024, and olanzapine 10mg at bedtime for unspecified behavior disorder starting 10/30/2024.
The Psychiatry Consult dated 12/27/2024 documented Resident #122 was stable with no signs of psychiatric decompensation and recommended olanzapine be decreased from 10mg to 7.5 mg daily at bedtime.
The Certified Nursing Assistant Accountability Record for 1/2025 documented Resident #122 was at high risk for falls.
On 1/06/2025 at 11:05 AM, Resident #122 was observed in their recliner in their room, with their back to their television. The television was off and there was no music playing. Resident #122 was alert but not responsive to verbal stimuli and stared at the floor in front of them while moving their mouth in a chewing motion.
On 1/07/2025 at 12:52 PM, Resident #122 was observed in a recliner in their room. Resident #122 was alert, not responsive to verbal stimuli, stared at the floor, and was turned away from the television.
On 1/08/2025 at 11:52 AM, Resident #122 was observed in their recliner alone in their room with their eyes closed and television on and facing away from Resident #122's line of sight.
On 1/13/2025 at 11:55 AM, the Director of Social Work was interviewed and stated they made rounds on the 3rd Floor daily and stationed themselves on the unit to observe the daily routine and get a sense of the environment. The Reflection Group was created to address residents with dementia and cognitive impairments who require more 1-to-1 supervision. The interdisciplinary team determined who was eligible to join the group based on the resident's cognitive assessment scores. The Reflection Group was in the 3rd Floor Dayroom. The Director of Social Work stated they were not familiar with the Reflection Group's daily activities and schedules, and the Director of Recreation was more involved with the coordination of group. The Director of Social Work stated the main goal of the Reflection Group was to provide a combination of redirection, activities, and nursing supervision to keep residents with dementia engaged. The Director of Social Work stated they were responsible for developing, reviewing, and revising care plans related to resident cognitive status. The Director of Social Work stated the care plans were individualized and included all the appropriate interventions required by that resident to address their cognitive impairments. The Director of Social Work stated the cognitive loss care plan was not necessarily a dementia care plan, and they did not know who was responsible for developing dementia care plans.
On 1/13/2025 at 2:31 PM, Transporter #23 was interviewed and stated their job responsibilities included transporting residents from their rooms to the floor dayroom or from the facility to outside clinic appointments. The Director of Recreation provided the Transporters with a schedule of Reflection Group attendees and activities. Transporter #23 stated they did not receive Recreation Aide training, and their job responsibilities did not include facilitating Reflection Group activity programs. Transporter #23 stated they were told by the Director of Recreation that there were some activities that they could help with when no other Recreation staff were available. Transporter #23 stated they helped cover Recreation staff on the 3rd Floor once 1 to 2 times weekly. The Reflection Group started each day in the morning at approximately 10 AM. The same residents from the Reflection Group stayed seated at the same tables in the Floor Dayroom for lunch served between 11:30 AM and 12 PM. Transporter #23 stated they received inservice and training on dementia care but was unable to specify when or provide examples of topics covered.
On 1/14/2025 at 10:12 AM, Recreation Leader #26 was interviewed and stated they were often assigned to work on the 3rd Floor and started their day by making rounds on the unit. Recreation Leader #26 stated they could not recall a facility-wide dementia care inservice but provided daily reminders to the other Recreation staff to be mindful of residents with dementia. The Reflection Group for residents with dementia had a separate activities calendar and special activities that were different from activities available to the other 3rd Floor residents. Recreation Leader #26 stated the Director of Recreation was out on leave and the Recreation Department was short-staffed. The Recreation Department was unable to assign a Recreation Leader to the 3rd Floor or the Reflection Group and the Transporters and Certified Nursing Assistants were asked to help give residents activities.
On 1/14/2025 at 12:21 PM, the Director of Nursing was interviewed and stated the Inservice Coordinator was on sick leave and the Director of Nursing was unable to locate the facility's annual dementia care inservice. The Director of Nursing stated they were responsible for maintenance of and availability of inservice records despite the Inservice Coordinators absence. The Reflection Group was the combined responsibility of the Recreation and Nursing Departments and was a specialized area with structured activities for cognitively impaired residents. Transporters and Certified Nursing Assistants were not responsible for providing activities to residents; however, the Director of Nursing stated they would rather have residents entertained than waiting for a Recreation Leader to arrive. The Director of Nursing stated they were not involved in and could not comment on Recreation schedules and assignments. The Director of Nursing stated they visited the Reflection Groups on previous occasions and the Charge Nurse was responsible for ensuring the Certified Nursing Assistants provided activity of daily living care to the Reflection group attendees. Nurse Managers were also responsible for informing the Medical Doctors within 24 hours of a resident's Psychiatry Consult and Psychiatry recommendations, if any.
10 NYCRR 415.12