The Laurels of Chatham

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at The Laurels of Chatham, in the surveyor’s own words.

• Actual harm, isolatedF689Jul 8, 2025

  Based on record review, observation and interviews with staff and the Medical Director the facility failed to provide care safely to a dependent resident (Resident #117). On 02/14/25 Resident #117 was sitting on a bath bench in the shower room while Nursing Assistant (NA) #1 was washing her hair when Resident #117's body suddenly went limp, and she went unresponsive. NA #1 laid Resident #117 onto the shower bench, ran approximately 10 feet away from her to yell for help, leaving Resident #117 with no staff support resulting in the resident falling off the shower bench. Resident #117 sustained a laceration to her right eyebrow with significant bleeding and bruising and a skin tear to her right elbow. […]

• Actual harm, isolatedF686Apr 17, 2024

  Based on record reviews, observations and interviews with the Orthopedic Physician Assistant, Orthopedic Nurse, Wound Physician Assistant, Medical Director, Hospice Aide, and staff, the facility failed to assess Resident #102's skin under an immobilizer used following a fractured distal femur (the area of the leg just above the knee joint). This resulted in the development of an unstageable (full thickness skin and tissue loss in which the extent of tissue damage within the ulcer cannot be confirmed because the wound bed is obscured by eschar (dry, dark scab of dead skin), slough (yellow tissue that is stringy and thick) and granulation tissue (part of the healing process in which lumpy, pink tissue containing new connective tissue and capillaries form around the edges of the wound)… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF565Apr 17, 2024

  Based on record review and staff and resident interviews, the facility failed to resolve resident council concerns regarding call bell responses on night shift. (Resident #s 23, 41, 77), and failed to provide the residents a private resident council meeting without staff interference for 2 of 4 months reviewed (March 2024 and April 2024). Findings included: 1. Resident council meeting minutes/concern form dated 3/5/24 documented by the Activity Coordinator for new business revealed residents had to wait a long time on night shift for staff to answer call lights. The facility response was call bells were to be answered within 3 to 5 minutes. It was everyone's responsibility to answer call bells. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF677Feb 9, 2023

  Based on record reviews, observations, family member, resident and staff interviews, the facility failed to trim and clean dependent residents' nails (Residents #66, #28, #114, #40, #116 and #58) and failed to assist with shaving (Resident #84). In addition, the facility failed to assist a resident with bathing (Resident #33). This was for 8 of 12 residents reviewed for Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The findings included: 1. Resident #66 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses that included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and muscle weakness. A quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE] indicated Resident #66 was cognitively intact and displayed no behaviors or rejection of care. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, patternF686Feb 9, 2023

  Based on record review, observations, and staff interviews, the facility failed to ensure the alternating pressure reducing air mattress was set according to the resident's weight for 3 of 12 residents reviewed for pressure ulcers (Resident #58, #87, and #14). The findings include: Review of the operational manual for the alternating air mattress revealed the following: Weight Setting Selection: The pressure of the mattress can be adjusted by choosing the patients ' corresponding weight setting using the weight setting buttons (+) and (-). Use the weight setting buttons to select the desired level. Pressure levels will range from 20 to 60 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). 1. […]