Our Lady of Mercy Life Center

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF585Oct 15, 2024

  Based on observations, interviews, and record review conducted during a recertification survey, the facility did not ensure that residents had the right to, and the facility must make, prompt efforts to resolve grievances the resident may have for all residents reviewed for grievances. Specifically during resident council meeting, 6 Residents reported they did not know there was a grievance process or a process by which grievances could be filed or resolved. This is evidenced by: The Facility's 2024 Admission Agreement, Part 17.6, documented Grievance Procedure. Facility has a Grievance Procedure if Resident, Resident's representative, or a family member wishes to file a complaint about the services provided by Our Lady of Mercy Life Center facility or its staff. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF561Oct 15, 2024

  Based on interviews and record reviews during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure that the resident had the right to make choices about aspects of their life in the facility that were significant to the resident for 2 (Resident #15 and 60) of 4 residents reviewed for choices. Specifically, Resident #'s 15 and 60 repeatedly requested more than 1 bed bath/shower per week, but the facility continued to provide 1 bed bath/shower per week to them, respectively. This is evidenced by: Resident #15 was admitted with diagnoses that included multiple sclerosis (a chronic disease that damages the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves), dysarthria (a speech impairment) following cerebral infarction (a stroke), and hemiplegia and hemiparesis… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF725Oct 15, 2024

  Based on observation, interviews and record review during the recertification and abbreviated survey (Case #s: NY00329064 and NY00353346), the facility did not ensure provision of sufficient nursing staff to assure resident safety and attain or maintain the highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being of each resident throughout the facility. Specifically, the facility's minimum staffing levels were not met every day on multiple shifts and multiple units between 10/08/2024 and 10/15/2024. Additionally, there were multiple residents and family complaints regarding the lack of sufficient staffing resulting in staff's timely response to call lights, and not providing scheduled showers and treatments. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF761Oct 15, 2024

  Based on observation, record review, and interviews conducted during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure drugs and biologicals were labelled and stored in accordance with professional standards of practice. Specifically, (a.) opened medications had no open and/or expiration dates; (b.) medication carts were left unlocked while unattended. (c.) personal items were stored in a medication cart; (d.) a pre-poured medication cup was noted at a resident's bedside; and (e.) a narcotic lock box had a broken lock. This was evident for 4 out of 5 medication carts reviewed ([NAME] Unit Cart #1; Lourdes Unit Cart #1; Lourdes Unit side 2 back half; [NAME] Unit Cart #2), and for 1 out of 5 narcotic lock boxes reviewed ([NAME] Unit). […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF812Oct 15, 2024

  Based on observation and interviews during the recertification survey, the facility did not ensure that food was stored, prepared, distributed, or served in accordance with professional standards for food service safety in 3 of 4 resident unit (Units two, three, and four) kitchenettes. Specifically, appliances and surfaces were not clean. This is evidenced by: A review of the policy titled Sanitation and Infection Prevention/Control revised on January, 2024 documented that the supervisor would assign special cleaning tasks on a daily basis which included kitchenette refrigerators. […]