Inspection Reports for Truewood by Merrill, New Bern

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted an annual and follow-up survey on 02/06/25 and 02/07/25 to assess compliance with medication administration and record accuracy regulations.

The facility failed to ensure that medication aides observed residents actually taking their medications before documenting administration for one resident, and failed to maintain accurate medication administration records for another resident regarding topical medication frequency.

Construction Section Biennial Survey conducted to ensure the facility meets the 1984 and applicable components of the 2005 Rules for Licensing of Adult Care Homes and the 1978 North Carolina State Building Code for Institutional Occupancy.

The facility was found to have multiple deficiencies related to physical plant safety including broken porch railing, electrical outlets near water sources lacking ground fault circuit interrupters, stained ceilings in multiple areas, and fire safety components such as a sprinkler with a large gap around it not maintained in a safe and operating condition.

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted an Annual and Follow Up Survey on 08/15/23 to 08/17/23 to assess compliance with regulations for the facility Truewood by Merrill, New Bern.

The facility was found deficient in multiple areas including failure to ensure medication aides completed required medication clinical skills competency validation and diabetic care training, failure to provide matching therapeutic diet menus for physician-ordered diets, and failure to administer medications as ordered for a resident, resulting in delayed implementation of medication changes.

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted a follow-up survey on January 4-5, 2022 to verify correction of previous deficiencies related to medication administration and timely medication delivery.

The facility failed to administer medications as ordered for multiple residents, including incorrect administration of eye drops and antibiotic ointment, and failure to have pain medication available. Additionally, medications were frequently administered outside the allowed timeframe for 4 of 5 residents reviewed.

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted an annual survey on September 29-30, 2021 and October 1, 2021 to assess compliance with regulations.

The facility failed to provide assistance with personal care needs for Resident #3, including incontinence care and repositioning, resulting in skin redness and swelling. Medication administration errors were found for Residents #8 and #5, including incorrect dosing and continuation of discontinued medications. Infection control measures were not consistently followed during medication administration. Additionally, medication aides lacked required training and competency validation.

The report documents a Construction Section Biennial Survey conducted to ensure the facility meets applicable building codes and licensing rules for adult care homes.

The survey found multiple deficiencies related to the physical plant, including outside premises not maintained in a clean and safe condition, fire safety equipment and doors not operating properly, holes in fire-resistant ceilings, and electrical equipment not maintained safely. All identified issues were repaired at the time of survey.

This was a Construction Section Biennial Survey to assess compliance with applicable physical plant, fire safety, and building code requirements for an adult care home.

The facility had multiple deficiencies including staff not carrying emergency release keys for magnetic locks, improper storage near sprinkler heads, inadequate fire drill rehearsals, malfunctioning magnetic locks and corridor doors, compromised fire-rated walls and ceilings, difficulty opening an exit door, and hot water temperature below required minimum.

The Adult Care Licensure Section and the Craven County Department of Social Services conducted a follow-up survey and complaint investigation initiated by the Craven County Department of Social Services on January 6, 2017.

The facility failed to notify physicians about medication refusals for 2 of 5 sampled residents, resulting in a Type B violation. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure accurate medication administration records due to improper use of login credentials by medication aides. The facility also failed to respond adequately to a resident's request to be moved due to roommate behavioral issues causing sleep disturbances.

Complaint investigation was initiated by the Craven County Department of Social Services on January 6, 2017, focusing on medication refusals and failure to notify physicians, as well as resident care concerns.

The Adult Care Licensure Section and the Craven County Department of Social Services conducted an annual survey on October 19-25, 2016 to assess compliance with regulations.

The facility failed to keep residents free of mental abuse by not separating two residents with verbal and physical behavior issues who were roommates. Multiple incidents of verbal and physical altercations between Resident #2 and Resident #6 were documented, including hitting and pushing. Despite interventions such as temporary room changes and 30-minute checks, the residents were returned to the same room due to lack of available Medicaid double rooms, resulting in continued conflicts and safety concerns.

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted a follow-up survey and complaint investigation from 2015-07-08 to 2015-07-10 to assess compliance with health care referral and follow-up requirements and medication aide training and competency.

The facility failed to assure referral and follow-up to meet the routine and acute health care needs for one resident, including failure to notify the physician timely about urinary symptoms and failure to fax resident weights as ordered. Additionally, two medication aides were found not to have met all training and competency requirements to administer medications.

The visit included a complaint investigation related to Resident #5's complaint of burning upon urination and an incident involving hot water thrown by a roommate. The complaint was substantiated as the facility failed to notify the physician timely and follow-up appropriately.

The Adult Care Licensure Section conducted an annual, follow-up, and complaint investigation survey on March 17 - 20, 2015.

The facility failed to have door alarm sounding devices on 2 of 2 exit doors and failed to ensure door alarm sounding devices were activated for 3 of 4 sampled exit doors to prevent 3 residents known to be wanderers from exiting without staff knowledge. The facility also failed to provide adequate supervision for 4 sampled residents diagnosed with dementia or disorientation, including incidents of elopement and unsafe behaviors. Medication administration errors and pharmaceutical service deficiencies were identified, including failure to administer medications as ordered, inaccurate medication administration records, and failure to ensure timely medication ordering and availability.