Hickory Creek at Winamac

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Hickory Creek at Winamac, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Nov 21, 2025

  Based on observation, record review, and interview , the facility failed to serve food under sanitary conditions related to dishes stored upright near the stove top, not allowing the blender pieces to air dry after washing and sanitizing between each use, the cook allowing blender pieces to touch his clothes, holding food temperatures not up to temperature before serving, storing a scoop in a food container, and the cook touching the inside of the blender blade with ungloved hands. This had the potential to affect all 24 residents who received food from the kitchen. (Main Kitchen)Findings include:1. The Initial Kitchen Tour was completed on 11/17/25 at 10:30 a.m. with the Dietary Manager (DM).Plates were observed stored upright and not covered next to the stove top. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF727Sep 6, 2024

  Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure there were 8 hours of consecutive RN (Registered Nurse) coverage for 9 out of 20 days reviewed. This had the potential to affect all 27 residents in the facility. Finding includes: On 9/6/24 at 11:21 a.m., the Nursing Staff Schedules dated 8/18/24 through 9/6/24 were reviewed. There was no RN scheduled for 8/18/24, 8/20/24, 8/21/24, 8/22/24, 8/23/24, 8/27/24, 8/31/24, 9/1/24, and 9/6/24. During an interview on 9/6/24 at 11:49 a.m., the Administrator indicated there was not 8 hours of RN coverage on the above dates. 3.1-17(b)(3)

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Sep 6, 2024

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure a sanitary kitchen related to expired foods, undated and/or unlabeled food, and foods open to air in the refrigerator and freezer. The facility also failed to ensure a cook cleaned a food thermometer probe correctly before checking temperatures of food. This had the potential to affect 27 residents who received meals prepared in the kitchen. Findings include: 1. On [DATE] at 10:46 a.m., during the initial kitchen tour with [NAME] 1, the following was observed: a. First refrigerator - There were 3 bags of lettuce. The best by used date was [DATE]. - There was a sealable bag of chicken [NAME] dated [DATE]. The use by date was [DATE]. - There was a sealable bag that was open to air. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF561Jul 16, 2021

  Based on interview and observation, the facility failed to promote and facilitate resident self-determination related to not having open dining available for the residents. This had the potential to affect any resident who would prefer the option for community dining. Finding includes: Interview with the Dietary Manager on 7/12/21 at 9:48 a.m., indicated they were not serving meals in the Main Dining Room and all the residents were still receiving all their meals in their rooms due to not being able to socially distance. On 7/12/21 at 11:00 a.m., Resident 21 indicated she did not know why they could not go down to the dining room for meals. She would be happy to go eat meals in the dining room. Several other residents interviewed on 7/12/21 indicated no preference. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, isolatedF657Nov 21, 2025

  Based on observation, record review, and interview, the facility failed to ensure an ADL (activities of daily living) Care Plan was updated to include the use of a hand splint for 1 of 2 residents reviewed for range of motion. (Resident 2)Finding includes:On 11/17/2025 at 10:50 a.m., Resident 2 was observed lying in his bed. He had an edema glove on his left hand and there was a hand splint on the bed. He indicated he wore the hand splint at night only. The resident's record was reviewed on 11/18/25 at 10:20 a.m. Diagnoses included, but were not limited to, hemiplegia (one sided paralysis) and hemiparesis (one-sided weakness) following a cerebral infarction (stroke) affecting the left side, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. […]