Life Care Center of Littleton

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Life Care Center of Littleton, in the surveyor’s own words.

• Actual harm, isolatedF689Nov 7, 2024

  Based on interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure three (#89, #59 and #67) of three residents out of 41 sample residents received adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Resident #89, who had a history of falls, was admitted to the facility on [DATE] after sustaining multiple pelvic fractures related to a fall sustained at home. The facility initiated a fall care plan on 11/15/23 which identified the resident was at risk for falls due to a gait imbalance (unsteady gait), poor cognition and a history of falls. The care plan documented generalized fall interventions which were not specific to the resident. […]

• Actual harm, isolatedF689Jul 18, 2022

  Based on record review and interviews, the facility failed to prevent falls for one (#1) of two out of three sample residents. Resident #1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnosis and history of frequent falls and sustaining a closed head injury following a fall. The resident was at risk of falling as indicated in her plan of care. The facility failed to implement effective fall precautions with her risk of falling. Due to the facility's failures the resident fell on [DATE], following the fall she required hospital treatment for new injuries that included scalp laceration, subdural hematoma and fractures of the left parietal (top part of the skull) and occipital bone (back of skull). […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Nov 7, 2024

  Based on observations, record review and interviews, the facility failed to ensure food was prepared, distributed and served under sanitary conditions in the main kitchen and three of three nourishment rooms. Specifically, the facility failed to: -Ensure ready-to-eat foods were handled in a sanitary manner to prevent cross contamination in the main kitchen; and, -Ensure safe and appropriate storage of food items in the nourishment room refrigerators. Findings include: I. Failed to ensure ready-to-eat foods were handled in a sanitary manner A. Professional reference The Colorado Retail Food Establishment Regulations, ([DATE]), were retrieved on [DATE] from https://cdphe.colorado.gov/environment/food-regulations. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF880Nov 7, 2024

  Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to maintain an infection control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment to help prevent the development and transmission of diseases and infection on one of three units. Specifically, the facility failed to: -Ensure housekeeping staff disinfected high-touch areas (call lights, door handles and handrails) when cleaning residents' rooms; and, -Ensure staff followed appropriate infection control practices when providing catheter care. Findings include: I. Failure to disinfect high-touch areas when cleaning residents' rooms A. Professional reference Assadian O, Harbarth S, Vos M, et al. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF759May 18, 2023

  Based on observations, record review, and interviews, the facility failed to ensure it was free of a medication error rate of five percent (%) or greater. Specifically, the medication administration observation error rate was 40% or 10 errors out of 25 opportunities for error. Cross-reference F760 failure to prevent significant medication errors. Findings include: I. Professional reference According to Potter, P.A., Perry, A.G., et.al., Fundamentals of Nursing, 10 ed. (2020), E.[NAME], St. Louis Missouri, pp. […]