Inspection Reports for
Sunny Vista Living Center

2445 E CACHE LA POUDRE ST, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 80909-4812

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Deficiencies (last 4 years)

Deficiencies (over 4 years) 4.8 deficiencies/year

Deficiencies are regulatory violations found during state inspections.

8% better than Colorado average
Colorado average: 5.2 deficiencies/year

Deficiencies per year

8 6 4 2 0
2022
2023
2024
2025

Inspection Report

Routine
Deficiencies: 6 Date: Jul 24, 2025

Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted to evaluate compliance with regulations related to psychotropic medication use, respiratory support equipment, mental health care, medication storage, food safety, infection control, and other aspects of resident care at Sunny Vista Living Center.

Findings
The facility failed to ensure proper documentation and monitoring of psychotropic medication use for several residents, timely provision of respiratory support equipment, appropriate mental health care including monitoring for suicidal ideations, proper medication storage and labeling, sanitary food storage and preparation, and adherence to infection control protocols including hand hygiene and catheter care.

Deficiencies (6)
Failure to ensure psychotropic medications were used with proper documentation of behaviors and non-pharmacological interventions for residents #63, #46, #73, #112, and #50.
Failure to provide Resident #4 with a physician ordered BiPAP machine for almost two months after admission.
Failure to provide appropriate treatment and services to Resident #12 with mental disorder and history of trauma, including inadequate monitoring and response to suicidal ideations.
Failure to ensure medications were properly labeled with date opened, expired medications removed, and medication refrigerator temperatures maintained within acceptable range.
Failure to store, distribute, and serve food in a sanitary manner, including use of scored cutting boards, wet stacked pans, and expired perishable foods.
Failure to maintain infection control program including proper hand hygiene and disinfectant use by housekeeping staff and infection preventionist during catheter care for Resident #68.
Report Facts
Residents in sample: 52 Psychotropic medication sample residents affected: 5 Medication refrigerator temperature: 58 Depression screening scores: 10 BIMS scores: 0 BIMS scores: 7 BIMS scores: 11 BIMS scores: 15 Medication expiration dates: 2024

Employees mentioned
NameTitleContext
RN #2Registered NurseInterviewed regarding psychotropic medication administration and behavior monitoring
CNA #3Certified Nurse AideInterviewed regarding resident behaviors and documentation
CNA #4Certified Nurse AideInterviewed regarding resident behaviors and interventions
LPN #4Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding resident behaviors and medication administration
SSD #1Social Services DirectorInterviewed regarding behavior monitoring and psychotropic medication management
MDMedical DirectorInterviewed regarding psychotropic medication management and resident care
RN #4Registered NurseObserved and interviewed regarding medication storage refrigerator temperature
LPN #8Licensed Practical NurseObserved medication cart and storage issues
Regional Director of Clinical OperationsRegional DirectorInterviewed regarding medication storage and infection control
MTDMaintenance DirectorInterviewed regarding disinfectant use and medication refrigerator temperature
HK #1HousekeeperObserved cleaning resident rooms with improper hand hygiene and disinfectant use
IP #2Infection PreventionistObserved providing catheter care with improper hand hygiene
ADONAssistant Director of NursingInterviewed regarding infection control and hand hygiene
PsychiatristInterviewed regarding Resident #12's mental health care and suicidal ideation
LPN #3Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding monitoring for suicidal ideations
CNA #5Certified Nurse AideInterviewed regarding Resident #12's depression and suicidal ideations

Inspection Report

Deficiencies: 2 Date: Sep 4, 2024

Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted to evaluate the facility's compliance with providing trauma-informed and culturally competent care, appropriate treatment and services for residents with mental disorders or psychosocial adjustment difficulties, and to assess psychosocial support and care planning for residents with depression and PTSD.

Findings
The facility failed to ensure trauma-informed care for residents with PTSD by not identifying triggers or providing individualized care plans for two residents. Additionally, the facility failed to provide appropriate psychosocial support and update care plans for a resident with increasing depression, including inaccurate antidepressant medication documentation and delayed referral to psychological services.

Deficiencies (2)
Failed to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent care for residents with PTSD, including failure to identify triggers and develop individualized care plans.
Failed to provide appropriate treatment and services for a resident with mental disorder and psychosocial adjustment difficulty, including failure to update care plans and provide psychosocial support.
Report Facts
Residents affected: 2 Residents affected: 1 PHQ-9 score: 7 PHQ-9 score: 2 BIMS score: 13 BIMS score: 15 BIMS score: 14

Employees mentioned
NameTitleContext
Director of NursingProvided Trauma Informed Care policy and interviewed regarding deficiencies
Social Service DirectorInterviewed regarding psychosocial support, care plans, and trauma assessments
Nursing Home AdministratorProvided Psychosocial Evaluation policy

Inspection Report

Routine
Deficiencies: 5 Date: Nov 30, 2023

Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted to evaluate compliance with food safety, resident food storage, and emergency equipment maintenance standards at Sunny Vista Living Center.

Findings
The facility failed to maintain proper hand hygiene and glove use during meal service, failed to maintain dish machine sanitizing temperatures, and did not keep the kitchen sanitary. Resident personal refrigerators were not properly monitored or maintained, and the facility failed to implement its policy on food brought by visitors. Emergency crash carts were not properly maintained, contained expired items, lacked required signage, and staff were inadequately trained on their use.

Deficiencies (5)
Failure to ensure staff washed hands and changed single use gloves appropriately while plating and serving resident meals.
Failure to maintain high temperature dish washing machines at sanitizing rinse temperatures of at least 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Failure to maintain the kitchen in a sanitary condition, including grease and debris buildup on floors and under equipment.
Failure to implement policy regarding use and storage of foods brought by visitors, including improper labeling, dating, and storage of resident personal refrigerator contents.
Failure to maintain emergency crash carts with complete, unexpired equipment and medications, failure to complete daily equipment checks, lack of staff training on crash cart use, and failure to post required oxygen storage signage.
Report Facts
Dish machine rinse temperature: 146 Dish machine rinse temperature: 148 Dish machine rinse temperature: 145 Dish machine rinse temperature: 174 Dish machine rinse temperature: 172 Dish machine rinse temperature: 177 Dish machine rinse temperature: 181 Dish machine rinse temperature: 185 Expired sterile water bottles: 2 Expired normal saline bottles: 2 Expired ambu bag: 1 Expired ambu bag: 1 Crash cart daily checklist completion: 9 Crash cart daily checklist completion: 14 Resident refrigerator temperature readings above 41°F: 20 Resident refrigerator temperature missing recordings: 19

Employees mentioned
NameTitleContext
DA #1Dietary AideNamed in multiple hand hygiene and glove use deficiencies during meal service observations.
DA #2Dietary AideNamed in hand hygiene and glove use deficiencies during meal service observations.
DMDietary ManagerProvided interviews regarding staff training and observations of deficiencies; responsible for food service oversight.
RDRegistered DietitianProvided interviews regarding staff training and visitor food policy.
LPN #1Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding crash cart #2; unable to verify medication requirements or oxygen cylinder replacement.
LPN #2Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding crash cart #1; unaware of oxygen cylinder replacement level.
LPN #3Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding crash cart #3; unaware of crash cart location, training, and equipment requirements.
RN #2Registered NurseInterviewed regarding crash cart #4; unaware of oxygen cylinder use and equipment requirements.
NHANursing Home AdministratorProvided interviews regarding policies, family council discussions, and follow-up actions.
DONDirector of NursingProvided interviews regarding crash cart responsibilities, staff training, and follow-up plans.

Inspection Report

Complaint Investigation
Deficiencies: 1 Date: Feb 2, 2023

Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted following a complaint regarding a medication error where a licensed practical nurse administered Ativan to a resident without a physician's order.

Complaint Details
The complaint investigation revealed that LPN #3 administered crushed Ativan from her personal supply to Resident #1 without a physician's order. The resident was experiencing extreme discomfort and panic. The nurse attempted to obtain an order but administered the medication before it arrived. The nurse was suspended and reported to the Board of Nursing. The resident passed away shortly after administration.
Findings
The facility failed to ensure residents were free from significant medication errors, specifically that Resident #1 was administered Ativan by an LPN without an order. The nurse used her personal medication supply, and the resident passed away shortly after. The facility conducted an investigation, removed the nurse from the schedule, reported her to the Board of Nursing, and provided staff education on medication administration.

Deficiencies (1)
Failure to ensure Resident #1 was not administered Ativan by LPN #3 without a physician order.
Report Facts
Residents affected: 1 Date survey completed: Feb 2, 2023 Date of resident death: Sep 13, 2022

Employees mentioned
NameTitleContext
LPN #3Licensed Practical NurseAdministered Ativan without physician order; agency nurse; suspended and reported to Board of Nursing
LPN #1Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding medication administration policies
LPN #2Licensed Practical NurseInterviewed regarding medication administration policies
RN #1Registered NurseInterviewed regarding medication administration education and standards
DONDirector of NursingInterviewed regarding nurse's actions and facility response
NHANursing Home AdministratorInterviewed regarding nurse's actions and facility response

Inspection Report

Routine
Census: 106 Deficiencies: 5 Date: Aug 11, 2022

Visit Reason
The inspection was conducted to assess compliance with regulatory requirements related to resident care, activities, medication administration, infection control, and safety in the nursing home.

Findings
The facility was found deficient in multiple areas including failure to provide adequate nail care for residents unable to perform ADLs, failure to provide meaningful activity programs for bedbound residents, failure to administer tube feedings per physician orders, failure to secure medication carts, and failure to implement effective COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures including improper PPE use, lack of fit testing for N95 masks, inadequate signage for isolation precautions, and failure to keep COVID-19 positive resident room doors closed.

Deficiencies (5)
Failed to ensure residents unable to carry out ADLs, specifically nail care, received necessary services to maintain clean, trimmed nails for two residents.
Failed to provide a meaningful program of activities for one bedbound resident, not meeting individual activity needs and interests.
Failed to provide enteral nutrition per physician's order for one resident requiring tube feeding on two occasions.
Failed to ensure medication carts were locked when unattended for one medication cart observed.
Failed to implement an effective infection prevention and control program to prevent spread of COVID-19, including improper PPE use, lack of N95 fit testing, inadequate signage for isolation precautions, and failure to keep COVID-19 positive resident room doors closed.
Report Facts
Residents affected: 2 Residents affected: 1 Residents affected: 1 Medication carts observed: 3 Medication carts unlocked: 1 Residents affected: 16 N95 masks available: 5489 Residents census: 106

Employees mentioned
NameTitleContext
Licensed Practical Nurse #1LPNNamed in relation to nail care responsibility and medication administration observations
Certified Nursing Assistant #1CNANamed in relation to nail care and infection control PPE observations
Certified Nursing Assistant #5CNANamed in relation to nail care and infection control PPE observations
Director of NursingDONNamed in relation to multiple findings including nail care, tube feeding, medication cart security, and infection control
AdministratorADMNamed in relation to multiple findings including nail care, tube feeding, medication cart security, and infection control
Infection PreventionistIPNamed in relation to infection control program and PPE use
Licensed Practical Nurse #2LPNNamed in relation to infection control PPE use and fit testing
Registered Nurse #1RNNamed in relation to activity program and infection control observations
Life Enrichment DirectorLEDNamed in relation to activity program deficiency
Environmental Services DirectorESDNamed in relation to infection control PPE use observations

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