Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, clinical record review, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to provide sufficient and timely social services related to the admission and discharge planning process for one of two residents reviewed (Resident 1).Findings include:Review of facility policy, titled Social Assessment, with a last review date of May 21,2025, revealed, in part, A social assessment shall be completed within fourteen (14) days of the resident's admission to the facility. A social assessment will be done to help identify the resident's personal and social situation, needs, and problems. Social services staff will obtain information during the initial interview of the family and upon the resident's admission. The purpose of obtaining this data is to identify information to help staff develop a personalized plan of care that will utilize the individual ' s existing strengths, try to compensate for physical and functional deficits, optimize function and quality of life, and meet the individual ' s needs and preferences.Review of facility policy, titled Social Services, with a last review date of May 21,2025, revealed, in part, The director of social services is a qualified social worker and is responsible for maintaining records related to social services and meeting or assisting with the medically-related social service needs of residents. The social worker/social services staff are responsible for assisting with informing and educating residents, families and representatives about health care options, making referrals and obtaining needed services from outside entities, helping residents with transitions of care services (for example, community placement options, home care services, transfer arrangements, etc.), and identifying and seeking ways to support resident needs through the assessment and care planning process.Review of facility policy, titled Discharge Summary and Plan, with a last review date of May 21, 2025, revealed, in part, Discharge Planning: 1. Every resident has an individualized discharge plan, which begins at admission and is part of the comprehensive care plan. 2. The purpose of the discharge plan is to ensure a safe transition from the facility to the post-discharge setting. 3. The discharge plan is developed by the care planning/ interdisciplinary team with the assistance of the resident and the representative to develop interventions to meet the resident ' s discharge goals and needs that must be addressed before the resident can be safely discharged (e.g., caregiver support and education, rehabilitation, etc.). 4. The discharge plan is based on the resident assessment, the goals for care, the desire for discharge and the resident's capacity for discharge. 5. Discharge planning identifies the discharge destination, and ensures that it meets the resident's health and safety needs, as well as preferences. 7. A member of the IDT {interdisciplinary team} reviews the final discharge plan with the resident and family at least twenty-four (24) hours before the discharge is to take place. 8. The final discharge plan of care shows what arrangements have been made for the resident regarding: a. where the resident will live after leaving the facility; b. follow-up care the resident will receive from other providers, and that provider's contact information; c. needed medical and non-medical services (including medical equipment); d. community care and support services, if needed; and e. when and how to contact the continuing care provider. In section titled Discharge to the Community: 3. The facility makes referrals to local agencies, the local ombudsman, and support services that can assist in accommodating the resident's post-discharge preferences, as appropriate. Referrals made for this purpose, and the response to these referrals, are documented in the medical record.Review of Resident 1's clinical record revealed that she was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses that included atrial fibrillation (an irregular, often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow), dementia with behavioral disturbance (cognitive decline accompanied by significant changes in behavior), repeated falls, and generalized muscle weakness. Further review of Resident 1's clinical record revealed that she was discharged home on October 2, 2025.Review of Resident 1's Social Services Evaluation-admission dated September 12, 2025, revealed it was blank. Further review of Resident 1's clinical record failed to reveal any documented social service assessments. Review of Resident 1's care plan revealed a care plan focus for: chronic/progressive decline in intellectual functioning characterized by deficit in memory, judgment, decision making and thought process related to dementia; impaired visual function; communication problem related to hearing deficit; activities of daily living self-care performance deficit; limited physical mobility; at risk for falls; and Resident wishes to discharge back to the community, all with an initiated date of September 20, 2025. Review of Resident 1's progress notes revealed a physician's history and physical note dated September 14, 2025, at 5:45 PM, that indicated in the Assessment and Plan section that Resident 1 had a fall prior to admission that resulted in facial injuries; that physical therapy would work on balance and transfers; and that she needed 24-hour support secondary to her diagnosis of dementia. Review of Resident 1's progress notes revealed a note dated September 16, 2025, at 2:37 PM, by the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) that indicated he had met with Resident 1 and that her friend participated by phone. The note further indicated that Resident 1 was doing well with supervision for transfers, was walking 150 feet with her walker and supervision, and needed a lot of cueing. The note also revealed that there was discussion about Resident 1's care needs at home upon discharge and that the plan was to pay privately for home care assistance until she would be eligible to apply for a waiver program.Review of Resident 1's progress notes revealed a physician's progress note dated September 19, 2025, at 12:05 PM, that indicated Resident 1 was still very confused.Review of Resident 1's progress notes revealed a physician's progress note dated September 22, 2025, at 6:54 PM, that indicated Resident 1 was still very confused. The note further indicated that the provider reviewed Resident 1's medications and treatment plan with her POA who was at Resident 1's bedside. The note indicated that Resident 1's plan was to receive short-term rehabilitation services and then be discharged . In addition, the note still indicated that she needed 24-hour support secondary to her diagnosis of dementia. This progress note was the last physician progress note prior to Resident 1's discharge from the facility.Review of Resident 1's progress notes revealed a note dated September 23, 2025, at 2:19 PM, by the NHA that indicated he had made a call to Resident 1's friend and that Resident 1's only barrier is her confusion which they will set up private duty aides. The note also indicated that a discharge was planned for October 2, 2025, unless Resident 1's insurance decided otherwise and that home health would be set up. Review of Resident 1's physician orders revealed an order, dated October 2, 2025, for home health upon discharge for physical therapy and occupational therapy.Review of Resident 1's progress notes between September 23, 2025, and October 2, 2025, failed to reveal any documentation of home health referral(s), if private duty care had been arranged, or if any assistance had been provided with transitions of care services for her discharge back to the community.Review of Resident 1's facility Discharge Summary revealed in the Social Services section that Resident 35 was documented as being occasionally confused; needing occasional cueing; was being discharged home alone and not with a relative or friend; that a referral for home health was made on September 29, 2025, with an order summary sent to the accepting agency; and that she needed to follow up with her primary care physician in 7-10 days after discharge. Documentation failed to include the name or contact information for the home health agency or for her primary care physician.Review of Resident 1's progress note dated October 2, 2025, at 2:38 PM, revealed that she was discharged to home. The note further indicated that Resident 1 was provided her medications, medication summary, and discharge paperwork which was explained to Resident 1 and her family. The note failed to indicate Resident 1's living arrangement post discharge or any information about services that had been organized for her transition back to the community.During an interview with the NHA and the Director of Nursing (DON) on October 21, 2025, at 1:25 AM, the NHA indicated that at the time of Resident 1's discharge, that he and the facility admission Coordinator were covering social service activities as the facility was in the process of hiring a new Social Worker. He said that he had just spoken to the Admissions Coordinator and she indicated that she had forgotten to document the home health referral information for Resident 1. He further indicated that he was aware that Resident 1's Representative (which he identified as a friend of Resident 1) had wanted Resident 1 to apply for a waiver program to receive care assistance at home, but that Resident 1 did not qualify financially. He said that he provided Resident 1's Representative with a list of private duty care providers that she could contact for care assistance at home. He confirmed that he was not aware if this was set up by Resident 1's Representative or not at time of Resident 1's discharge from the facility. He further confirmed that there was no documentation of a review of Resident 1's discharge plan or the assessment of the discharge plan to determine if Resident 1 would have all necessary measures in place that she required to be safe. He also confirmed that no social services assessment was completed during Resident 1's stay at the facility between September 11, 2025, and October 2, 2025, which would have helped with her discharge planning. He revealed that a new social worker had been hired on October 7, 2025. 28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) Responsibility of licensee28 Pa. Code 201.18 (b)(1)(3) Management28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(1)(3)(5) Nursing services