Inspection Reports for Deerfield Ridge

The Adult Care Licensure Section and the Watauga Department of Social Services conducted an annual survey from January 22, 2025 to January 23, 2025 at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living.

The facility failed to ensure mealtime service consisted of non-disposable place settings for 3 of 9 residents who ate in their rooms. Additionally, the facility failed to clarify a medication order for oxygen for 1 of 5 residents and failed to maintain accurate electronic Medication Administration Records (eMAR) for 2 of 5 residents related to oxygen and a medication used to treat constipation.

This is a Construction Section Biennial Follow Up Survey conducted to assess the condition of the facility's building equipment and fire safety systems.

The inspection found that the building's fire sprinkler system was not maintained in a safe and operating condition, specifically noting rusted and pitted sprinklers at the entrance portico that require replacement.

The facility was surveyed for conformance with applicable portions of the 2005 Rules for Licensing of Adult Care Homes of Seven or More Beds and applicable portions of the North Carolina State Building Code and Minimum Standards for Homes for the Aged as part of a Construction Section Biennial Survey.

Deficiencies were found related to the failure to maintain fire safety equipment including rusted and pitted sprinklers, missing or damaged fire dampers, fire-resistant doors not closing properly, and a non-operational exhaust fan in the guest bathroom.

The facility was surveyed for conformance with the applicable portions of the 2005 Rules for Licensing of Adult Care Homes of Seven or More Beds, and applicable portions of the North Carolina State Building Code and Minimum Standards and Regulations for Homes for the Aged in effect at time of initial licensure.

Multiple deficiencies were cited related to physical plant safety and maintenance, including obstructed corridors, unsecured oxygen cylinders, broken fixtures, improperly maintained fire extinguishers, malfunctioning fire and smoke doors, incomplete fire suppression system maintenance, dropped fire sprinkler escutcheon plates, unsafe electrical components, and non-functioning exhaust ventilation systems.

The Adult Care Licensure Section and the Watauga Department of Social Services conducted an annual and follow-up survey on November 14 and 15, 2017.

The facility failed to assure sufficient personnel were employed to perform housekeeping and food service duties, resulting in direct care staff routinely performing these tasks in addition to resident care. Staffing shortages impacted timely assistance to residents, especially those with Alzheimer's/dementia in the Special Care Unit.

Follow-up survey conducted to verify correction of previously identified deficiencies at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living.

Not all deficiencies were corrected. Specifically, hoses on the shower wands at both sinks in the Beauty Salon were long enough to reach the sink basins without vacuum breakers, posing a risk of siphoning contaminated water into the water system.

The facility was surveyed for conformance with the applicable portions of the 2005 Rules for Licensing of Adult Care Homes of Seven or More Beds, and applicable portions of the North Carolina State Building Code and Minimum Standards and Regulations for Homes for the Aged in effect at time of initial licensure. This was a biennial construction survey.

The survey identified multiple deficiencies including lack of current sanitation and fire safety inspection reports, absence of vacuum breakers on shower hoses in the Beauty Salon, incomplete fire safety rehearsals on each shift, and compromised fire safety features such as double corridor doors that do not latch and holes in fire-rated walls and ceilings.