Tulare Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at Tulare Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF804Mar 12, 2026

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to:1. Ensure four of 45 sampled residents (Resident 38, Resident 86, Resident 76, and Resident 29) were provided palatable (pleasant to taste) meals at a safe temperature. This failure had the potential for to cause foodborne illness (illness caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or beverages) and unintended weight loss.2. Ensure 45 of 45 sampled residents were served foods prepared in a method which maintained nutritive value of food, when vegetables were not prepared as close as possible to serving time. This failure had the potential to decrease the nutritional value of the food, cause nutritional decline, and negatively affect the resident's health.Findings: 1. During an interview on 3/9/26 at 10:07 a.m. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Mar 12, 2026

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to ensure 45 of 45 sampled residents were served food prepared according to professional standards for food service safety and sanitary kitchen conditions when: 1. Dry food item was not stored in an airtight sealed container. 2. Three boxes of produce were not labeled with received dates. 3. Clean cooking utensils were not covered to prevent contamination. 4. Temperature of vegetable was not taken before serving to resident plate. 5. Dirty food serving pan was not sanitized before re-use. These failures had the potential to cause foodborne illnesses (illness caused by the ingestion of contaminated food or beverages) for residents.Findings: 1. During a concurrent observation and interview on 3/9/26 at 9:33 a.m. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF880Oct 24, 2024

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to implement infection control practices when: 1. The facility policy and procedure (P&P) titled Laundry Services was not followed for one of one laundry room not clean and sanitary. 2. The facility P&P titled Housekeeping-General was not followed when a used toilet brush was left on top of the clean area of one of two housekeeping carts. 3. The facility P&P titled Personal Protective Equipment was not followed when two of 19 nursing staff (Licensed Vocational Nurse [LVN] 9 and Certified Nursing Assistant [CNA] 4) did not remove the N95 mask (respiratory protective device) before leaving an transmission based precaution (measures used to protect staff, patient and visitors from infection) room. 4. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Nov 10, 2022

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to: 1. Maintain food storage and food handling practices in a safe and sanitary manner. 2. Keep the ice machine in the kitchen clean and sanitary. 3. Dispose food beyond used-by-date. These failures had the potential for transmission of food-borne illness. Findings: 1. During a concurrent observation and interview on [DATE], at 9:48 AM, with Food and Nutrition Services Director (FNSD), inside the kitchen walk-in refrigerator, one plastic container with cheese-like substance and two plastic containers with a mixture of canned fruits were observed unlabeled and undated. FNSD confirmed the findings and stated, the cheese-like substance was cottage cheese and the fruit mix was fruit cocktail. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF880Nov 10, 2022

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to implement infection prevention and control practices when: 1. Hand-held nebulizer (a device that turns liquid medications into a fine mist, allowing for easy absorption into the lungs) mouthpiece and facemask connected to a continuous positive airway pressure ([CONDITION(S)] machine- used in the treatment of [MEDICAL RECORD OR PHYSICIAN ORDER] . 2. Oxygen tubing/connector was on the floor. 3. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) 1 did not properly dispose of her gown and gloves when exiting Resident 36's room, which was on transmission-based precaution (used to help stop the spread of germs from one person to another), and touched the doorknob with used and contaminated gloves to open the door. 4. […]