Massachusetts inspects every assisted living residence at least once every two years. At its most recent compliance review on September 19, 2024, the state cited 6 findings at The Atrium at Veronica Drive. 2 of them had already been cited at the previous review. Across the 145 Massachusetts residences with a published report, the median is 6.
This page covers one review, not a history, and it is not a score or a ranking. A finding means the state identified something the residence has to correct; it does not on its own mean a resident was harmed. The state does not publish what happened after this review, so a finding listed here may since have been fixed. Where the state withheld private details, such as a resident's medication or the date of an incident, the text reads [redacted].
Facility details
What the state found
6 findings · 2 repeatEmergency call responseDelayed e-call response time not compliant with ALR policy.▼
How quickly staff answer a resident's emergency call button.
EOEA reviewed the Personalized Emergency Response procedures developed to provide timely assistance to a Resident in the event of an emergency needs situation.
During the month of December 2023 there were 15 e-call response times over the twelve (12) minutes required by Residence policy and for the month of August 2024 there were four (4) e-call response times over the 15 minutes required by Residence policy.
General Requirements for an ALR: Emergency Response
651 CMR 12.04(2)(b) (3)(b)
Memory care unitSafety issues identified in the Special Care Residence (SCR).Repeat finding▼
Extra requirements that apply to units caring for residents with dementia.
EOEA reviewed the SCR operations on the date of the Compliance Review to verify that the SCR is complying with all the required safeguards.
EOEA identified issues with operational safeguards related to staff training, 24-hour preparedness for emergency assistance and addressing unsafe behaviors such as wandering:
When the secured and alarmed doors in the Cape Cod SCR Residence were opened and triggered by EOEA; there was no response by Residence staff to investigate the alarms or check on the safety of Residents.
EOEA reviewed five (5) Resident Records reviewing documentation from August 2023 through the date of the Compliance Review to determine compliance with the requirements for Screenings, Assessments and Service Plan Development and Requirements.
EOEA reviewed the Residence records of four (4) Residents utilizing bed rails / U-bars or similar devices for the period of 2023 through the date of the Compliance Review to determine compliance with the required assessment by a physical/occupational therapist every six months.
Documentation of an assessment conducted by a physical/occupational therapist every six months for three (3) Residents noting that the Resident can independently navigate around a bed rail/ U-bar for the calendar years reviewed was missing. Two (2) of the bed rails were also secured to the bed by loose straps; another potential risk to the Resident’s safety.
This was also cited at the previous compliance review.
General Requirements for an ALR: Special Care
651 CMR 12.04(4)(a) (2)(3)(5)
Resident screening and assessmentInconsistent Bedrail assessments.▼
Checking, before and during residency, that the residence can meet a resident's needs.
General Requirements for an ALR: Screening and Assessment
651 CMR 12.08(1)(s)
Quality assurance programMissing or incomplete components of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement requirements. Unsafe LMA.Repeat finding▼
The residence's own program for auditing and improving the care it gives.
EOEA reviewed documentation to ensure the Residence has established an effective, ongoing quality improvement and assurance program for Service Planning, Safety Assurances, and Medication Quality from August 22, 2023 through the date of the Compliance Review.
Documentation of the date the audit was conducted was missing for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years reviewed.
Resident Safety Assurances
EOEA requested information concerning two (2) Resident Records to review Assessment, Service Plan, and progress note documentation to determine if the Residence is meeting the Residents’ needs in accordance with 651 CMR 12.00. EOEA also reviewed Residence Incident Reports concerning bruising, skin tears or injuries of unknown origin submitted to EOEA from August 2023 to the date of Compliance Review.
One Resident’s record, in conjunction with incidents reported to EOEA, notes, [redacted].
One Resident’s record, in conjunction with incidents reported to EOEA, notes,
During the past 90-days prior to the Compliance Review, the Residence reported [redacted]
EOEA observed two (2) nurses providing medication assistance to six (6) Residents to ensure the Residence has developed and implemented systems that support and promote safe LMA.
EOEA observed one (1) nurse sign the Medication Administration Record prior to the Resident taking the medication.
EOEA observed one (1) Resident with a compromised dosage bubble in the pharmacy filled medication dosage bubble pack. This Resident was also missing a crushed medication order in their Medication Storage Unit to coincide with the nurse crushing the medication.
This was also cited at the previous compliance review.
General Requirements for an ALR- Service and Service Coordination: Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement
651 CMR 12.04(10)(a)(b)(c)(2),(d)(e)
Incident reportingThe Residence filed 86 incident reports greater than 24 hours after the occurrence of the incident or accident.▼
Telling the state, on time, when something happens to a resident.
EOEA reviewed the Residence records and incident reports from October 2022 through the date of the Compliance Review to determine whether the Residence complied with the requirement to qualifying incidents to EOEA within 24 hours after the occurrence of the incident or accident.
The Residence filed 86 incident reports greater than 24 hours after the occurrence of the incident or accident.
Emergency Preparedness Plan and Reporting Requirements: Reporting Resident Specific Emergencies
651 CMR 12.04(11)(e)
Resident recordsMissing information necessary for the continuity of care.▼
Records that keep a resident's care information complete and available to staff.
EOEA reviewed the documentation maintained in two 90-day correspondence logs, Log A and Log C, to communicate information necessary to maintain the continuity of care for Residents.
Log A did not consistently document all significant or pertinent information necessary to maintain the continuity of care for all Residents.
Corrective Actions
Record Requirements: Correspondence Log
651 CMR 12.05(4)
Glossary
Abbreviations the state uses without explaining themWhat the residence must doThe residence must send the state a plan to correct each finding, what it will do to keep it from happening again, who is responsible and by when. The state also asked for specific proof, listed here as written.▼
Specific Corrective Actions.
Submit to EOEA the following:
Documentation confirming that there has been a Special Care Residence operational review of all required components, especially related to staff training, 24- hour preparedness for emergency assistance and addressing unsafe behaviors such as wandering
Documentation confirming a newly completed review of all Residents using a bed rail or u-bar.