F 0689
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Few
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to
prevent accidents.
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on
observation, interview and record review, the facility failed to provide a safe environment by ensuring the
safety of their residents for one of three sampled residents when Resident 1 was found dead outside the
facility basement exit door.
Findings:
During a review of Resident 1's Interdisciplinary Note, dated [DATE] at 8:00 p.m., the note indicated
Resident 1 was identified as missing at 6:00 p.m. on [DATE] when Resident 1 failed to return to the unit. A
search for Resident 1 was initiated in the ward and throughout the building where the Skilled Nursing
Facility (SNF) unit was located. A high-risk reportable incident was initiated.
During a review of Resident 1's Patient Care Plan, dated [DATE], the plan indicated Resident 1 had the
potential for Injury or Accident with his risk factors listed in Problem # 2 as a history of falls, chronic pain,
neuropathy (a nerve condition that can lead to pain, numbness, weakness or tingling), weakness/unsteady
gait, history of hypotensive (low blood pressure), history of ETOH [alcohol] consumption, poor safety
awareness, forgets limitations, use of assistive device (4ww [four wheel walker], electric scooter) and
Cognitive Impairment ( Problems with a person's ability to think, learn, remember, use judgement, and
make decisions). Problem # 8 indicated an additional risk for injury to Resident 1 when leaving the ward
unaccompanied. The care plan problem indicated Resident 1 could experience a serious accident and/or
injury (i.e. falls, dehydration, heat stroke, hypothermia (low body temperature), assault, traffic danger, etc.)
that may lead to death. Or the resident could potentially get lost and unable to return to the ward on time for
their care such as medications and or other treatments.
During a review of the facility document titled, Office of Public Safety - Patrol Division Officers Daily Log,
dated [DATE], it indicated at 11:27 p.m., CHP found the missing person, Resident 1, in the west wing at the
exterior the portion of the building. [State] Fire declared Resident 1 deceased at 11:27 p.m.
During an interview on [DATE] at 10:45 a.m. with California Highway Patrol officer (CHP 1), CHP 1 stated
he was called on [DATE] by the graveyard CHP officer who needed assistance with initiating a Silver Alert
(a public announcement that a senior citizen is missing). At 8:30 p.m. the process was started for initiating
the Silver Alert. CHP 1 stated, There was aircraft available to assist in the search. It was them who located
someone outside of the building, they requested the CHP office go to check the location.
(continued on next page)
Any deficiency statement ending with an asterisk (*) denotes a deficiency which the institution may be excused from correcting providing it is determined that other
safeguards provide sufficient protection to the patients. (See instructions.) Except for nursing homes, the findings stated above are disclosable 90 days following the
date of survey whether or not a plan of correction is provided. For nursing homes, the above findings and plans of correction are disclosable 14 days following the date
these documents are made available to the facility. If deficiencies are cited, an approved plan of correction is requisite to continued program participation.
LABORATORY DIRECTOR'S OR PROVIDER/SUPPLIER
REPRESENTATIVE'S SIGNATURE
TITLE
(X6) DATE
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Facility ID:
If continuation sheet
Page 1 of 3
Event ID:
555095
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
555095
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
02/06/2025
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Veterans Home of California - Yountville - Snf
100 California Drive
Yountville, CA 94599
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Few
During a concurrent observation and interview on [DATE] at 3:35 p.m., with Certified Nursing Assistant 1
(CNA 1) in the basement of the building where the facility's SNF was located, CNA 1 walked through the
basement explaining the areas he searched for Resident 1 on [DATE] at approximately 7:00 p.m. He stated
he did not open the exit door near the smoking area to check outside when he was searching. He stated
that door was not being used. CNA 1 stated he knew the door was unlocked and accessible. CNA 1 stated,
I skipped that area, I'm not sure why. It is not an access for residents. We did not talk anything about that
door during our search. CNA 1 stated he should have looked there too. The area directly outside the door
was observed. The area was coned off for safety and there was a cyclone fence barrier enclosing a
construction zone atop a stairway several feet from the door. There was no direct access to the public
sidewalk from the doorway except over a grassy incline.
During an interview on [DATE] at 4:10 p.m. with Registered Nurse 1 (RN 1), the RN in charge of Resident
1's ward on [DATE], RN stated he did not consider the resident would exit the door where he was found
dead. RN 1 stated, I believe it was open and residents did have access to that area. I felt OPS (Office of
Public Safety) would be doing the search outside . I was not asked to search the perimeter of the building.
During an interview on [DATE] at 6:18 p.m. with the Office of Public Safety officer (OPS 2) on duty on
[DATE] from 6:00p.m. to 6:00 a.m., OPS 1 stated, I did not ask if they completed a perimeter search of the
building . My assumption was we were two different entities working on this. I feel like us lacking a detailed
SOP [standard operating procedure] is a crutch for everybody . We are using a nursing missing person
policy. I have asked for policies a hundred times. I have been told to just wait. There should be a policy for
every department for missing persons. I was told we work alongside with nurses to help find the person . I
had not received any additional training other than the nursing policy for a missing person situation . Those
doors he exited out of are to be secured usually between 8-9 p.m. by us [OPS]. With the priorities of what
needed to be done, I was more focused on the missing person than locking the doors.
During an interview on [DATE] at 4:15 p.m. with Supervising Registered Nurse (SRN 1), SRN 1 stated, I
called the morning shift and asked them when they last saw him. I was told at 12:30 p.m. he [Resident 1]
was going to his podiatry appointment then to [city]. I was the point person. The contact person for the
whole incident . I did not ask if the perimeter was searched. It was not in my thought. I assumed OPS did
that. I did not ask OPS if they did a perimeter search. We can't go outside long enough. We cannot leave
the residents. We searched every floor in the building. I did not think about that area [outside the side door
where Resident 1 was located]. I passed through that area three times that night. It was not in my thought
to look there or to open the door. The door was unlocked. I think it should have been looked at. At that time,
we were so focused on the search in [city] . No one goes in there, it is a construction area. It should have
been searched. I should have pushed the door open. My concern was the building, not the perimeter.
During an interview on [DATE] at 10:15 a.m. with OPS Chief (OPS 1), OPS 1 stated the OPS was primarily
involved in the exterior and grounds search. They use the nursing policy on missing persons as their guide.
During an interview on [DATE] at 4:03 p.m. with RN 2, RN 2 stated she saw the door where Resident 1 was
located, but she did not check it. It was pitch black outside . I feared for my safety.
During an interview on [DATE] at 5:00 p.m. with SRN 2, SRN 2 stated, I do not think the perimeter of the
building was checked. There are stairs out that door, but no access in or out besides the
(continued on next page)
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
555095
If continuation sheet
Page 2 of 3
Printed: 05/15/2026
Form Approved OMB
No. 0938-0391
Department of Health & Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
AND PLAN OF CORRECTION
(X1) PROVIDER/SUPPLIER/CLIA
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
(X2) MULTIPLE CONSTRUCTION
555095
B. Wing
A. Building
(X3) DATE SURVEY
COMPLETED
02/06/2025
NAME OF PROVIDER OR SUPPLIER
STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE, ZIP CODE
Veterans Home of California - Yountville - Snf
100 California Drive
Yountville, CA 94599
For information on the nursing home's plan to correct this deficiency, please contact the nursing home or the state survey agency.
(X4) ID PREFIX TAG
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF DEFICIENCIES
(Each deficiency must be preceded by full regulatory or LSC identifying information)
F 0689
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Few
door. If we were going to check the whole building, we should have checked the perimeter. SRN 2 stated
the CNA said he drinks, he may have been confused. I'm thinking they might not have checked outside that
door as it was nighttime already.
During an interview on [DATE] at 8:46 a.m. with Chief Health and Safety Officer (HSO 1), HSO 1 stated the
Emergency Only exit sign, caution tape and cones were placed after the incident. HSO 1 stated, That is
something we should have considered prior to the event . It is not an area of high traffic. The signage now is
to minimize even more traffic through there. HSO 1 stated the exit discharge does not meet the
requirements of exit regulations as it was an old building and to meet the code it would cost too much
money. HSO 1 stated she did not consider the exit area to be a risk.
During a concurrent observation and interview on [DATE] at 10:30 a.m. with Administrative Staff 2 (AS 2) in
the basement of the building through the hallway adjacent to the smoking area and outside the door where
Resident 1 was located. AS 2 stated the door is always left unlocked for emergency exits due to the Health
and Safety Code. AS 2 stated, The area was not observed by the staff that night after the CHP found
Resident 1 as it was considered a crime scene.
During a review of the facility policy and procedure titled, Missing Resident/Elopement - Code Purple, dated
[DATE], the policy indicated Phase 1, the initial search and notification process shall be completed within
the first 2 hours of a known or suspected missing Resident. The policy indicated, Licensed Nurse gathers
available staff to implement a search of the environment as follow The staff searches the Residents room,
the unit, the last known location, the immediate outside perimeter of the building, neighboring units, and
finally the Supervising registered nurse or designee and Office of Public Safety (OPS) coordinate an
expanded facility wide search.
FORM CMS-2567 (02/99)
Previous Versions Obsolete
Event ID:
Facility ID:
555095
If continuation sheet
Page 3 of 3