Failure to Ensure Residents and Representatives Understood Binding Arbitration Agreements
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that residents and/or their representatives understood the binding arbitration agreements included in the admission packet. The facility’s standard arbitration form stated that any disputes regarding services or health care provided by the facility would be resolved through binding arbitration, that signing the agreement waived statutory and constitutional rights to have claims decided in court before a judge and jury, and that signing was not a precondition for admission. The agreement also stated that the resident should seek legal counsel and that the agreement could be rescinded in writing within 30 days by certified mail. However, interviews with residents and representatives who had signed these agreements showed no evidence that staff clearly explained these provisions or confirmed that signers understood what they were agreeing to. One resident with multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, contractures, anemia, and weakness was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 14 and had electronically signed the arbitration agreement as his own representative. He reported understanding the concept of arbitration generally but did not remember signing the facility’s arbitration agreement and stated he was not clear on what he was signing at the time. He did not recall the admissions staff clearly explaining that he should seek legal counsel before signing or that he would be giving up certain legal rights, and he stated that he would not have signed had he understood this. Another resident with dysphagia, hemiplegia following cerebral infarction, a gastrostomy, type 2 diabetes, cognitive communication issues, generalized muscle weakness, and gout had an initial BIMS score of 0, indicating severely impaired cognition, and a later BIMS score of 15, indicating intact cognition. The arbitration agreement for this resident was signed by the resident and an emergency contact as representative. During a telephone interview, the emergency contact stated they did not remember signing anything that would prevent the resident or family from taking the facility to court, and that the arbitration process and agreement were not made clear before signing. A third resident with rib fracture, protein-calorie malnutrition, atrial fibrillation, systolic congestive heart failure, generalized muscle weakness, and cognitive communication deficit was documented as her own responsible party and had a BIMS score of 15, indicating intact cognition. The arbitration agreement in her record was electronically signed by an emergency contact as her representative. The resident stated she did not remember signing any legal papers like that, noted there were many papers to sign at admission, and reported that a family member present at admission would not have allowed her to sign such a document. A fourth resident with hemiplegia, clavicle fracture, hematuria, generalized muscle weakness, adjustment disorder, and cognitive communication deficit had a BIMS score of 14 and a power of attorney as representative. The arbitration agreement was electronically signed by the representative, who later stated she did not understand what she was signing, was unsure how arbitration works, and was more focused on the resident’s health at the time. She did not recall being advised to seek legal counsel or being clearly informed that signing meant giving up the right to pursue legal action in court. The Director of Admissions reported that arbitration agreements are included in the admission packet and that she waits for a BIMS score before reviewing them with residents or representatives. She stated that for residents with BIMS scores of 12 or higher, she meets with the resident and/or representative to review the admission packet and arbitration agreement, and for residents with lower BIMS scores she meets with the representative if they wish to sign. She described asking whether they had heard of binding arbitration and explaining that by signing they agree to use the facility’s arbitrator rather than their own legal counsel for unresolved grievances, disputes, or legal matters, and that signing is voluntary and not required for admission. She also stated she tells them they have 30 days to change their minds, but acknowledged that the process she described for rescinding—contacting her by phone or in person so she can notify the regional office—is not outlined in the document itself, which specifies rescission by written notice via certified mail. When asked how she determines understanding, she stated that she simply asks if they understand, and surveyor interviews found no evidence that staff explanations ensured residents or representatives truly understood the binding arbitration agreements they signed.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with documented capacity to make decisions signed an arbitration agreement, but staff did not ensure it was explained in a way he understood. During interviews, the resident showed confusion about the process, stated he did not understand the agreement, and said he signed it because staff wanted him to. The AA said she explains arbitration in person if a resident is alert, while the SSD and RN noted periods of confusion and the resident made statements suggesting impaired understanding.
A facility arbitration agreement incorrectly stated that it could not be rescinded within 30 days of signature, and this version was used for three residents. The residents had psychiatric diagnoses and varying documentation of capacity/cognition, and the SSD confirmed the same erroneous agreement had been signed over the past 3 years. The ADM stated the error had the potential to violate resident rights by not providing the 30-day rescission period.
A resident with dementia, moderate cognitive impairment on BIMS, and a documented POA signed admission paperwork that included a binding arbitration agreement. The record described the resident as confused, a poor historian, and unable to care for himself, while staff noted family concerns about the POA and did not document attempts to contact the POA. The NHA later confirmed the facility failed to ensure the resident had the capacity to understand the arbitration agreement.
A resident with severely impaired cognition and documented lack of decision-making capacity had a binding arbitration agreement signed in the resident’s name. The AD and AA stated the agreement was explained and the resident nodded, but they did not verify capacity or confirm informed decision-making with nursing staff, and the facility policy required verbal acknowledgment from the resident or representative before signing.
Arbitration Agreement Missing Required Resident Rights Language: A resident with multiple diagnoses, including dementia, COPD, and dysphagia, had an arbitration agreement that did not state that signing was not a condition of admission or continued care, and did not state that the resident could communicate with federal, state, or local officials, including surveyors and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman. The AD confirmed the omissions after the agreement was reviewed during the survey process.
Arbitration Agreement Missing Required Communication Language: The facility’s arbitration agreement for three residents did not include required language stating that the resident or a representative could communicate with federal, state, or local officials, including surveyors and the Ombudsman. One resident had impaired cognition and could not make medical decisions, while the other two had capacity and intact cognition. The AC and ADM acknowledged the language was missing from the agreement, and the facility policy stated the agreement may not prohibit or discourage these communications.
Arbitration Agreement Not Explained in Understandable Manner
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the Binding Arbitration Agreement was explained in a manner understandable to Resident 183, despite documentation indicating the resident had the capacity to understand and make decisions. Resident 183’s Face Sheet showed admission from a hospital with diagnoses including osteoporosis, and the MDS described him as moderately cognitively impaired but still able to make daily decisions. The resident signed the arbitration agreement on 4/22/2026, and the H&P dated 4/23/2026 stated he had the capacity to understand and make decisions. During interviews on 4/23/2026, Resident 183 did not recall signing the agreement and gave responses showing limited understanding of the arbitration process, including asking who would be his arbitrator and stating, “Vaguely. My brain is slowly growing back.” The SSD and RN reported periods of confusion, and the AA stated she explains the arbitration process in person if a resident is alert. When asked if he understood the agreement, Resident 183 stated, “No. I just signed it because they wanted me to.” The AA, DON, and ADON were present during the discussion, and the facility’s Question/Answer Arbitration Agreement document described arbitration as a private way to resolve disputes rather than going to court.
Arbitration Agreement Misstated Residents’ 30-Day Right to Rescind
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its arbitration agreement accurately reflected residents’ right to rescind the agreement within 30 days for three sampled residents. The facility’s undated Resident-Facility Arbitration Agreement stated, “This agreement may not be rescinded by written notice within thirty (30) days of signature,” which conflicted with the residents’ right to refuse or withdraw from the agreement. During interview, the Social Services Director stated this typographical error had been in the agreement used for the last 3 years and that the agreements containing the error were signed by Resident 15, Resident 26, and Resident 41. Resident 15 had diagnoses including schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, DM, and COPD, with documentation showing fluctuating capacity in the H&P and intact cognition on the MDS. Resident 26 had diagnoses including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and suicidal ideations, with intact cognition on the MDS and capacity to understand and make decisions documented in the H&P. Resident 41 had diagnoses including schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, and depression, with fluctuating capacity in the H&P and intact cognition on the MDS. The Administrator stated the typographical error had the potential to violate resident rights by not providing the 30-day time period to rescind the agreement.
Failure to Verify Capacity Before Signing Arbitration Agreement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident had the capacity to understand the terms of a binding arbitration agreement before signing admission paperwork. Resident R64 was admitted with diagnoses including high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia, and dementia, and the admission MDS dated 8/17/25 showed a BIMS score of 11, indicating moderate cognitive impairment. Pre-admission hospital records described the resident as a poor historian with cognitive impairment/dementia that was likely worsening, inability to care for self, poor medication adherence, frequent falls, balance problems, and decreased energy. The record also showed that Resident R64 had a Durable Health Care POA naming Resident Representative RR1 effective 12/13/23, and the pre-admission paperwork listed RR1 as the emergency contact. A nursing progress note documented that the resident was very confused and slightly agitated. A social work note stated that two cousins visited and discussed family concerns about the current POA, while the facility record did not include documentation that attempts were made to contact the POA. The admission agreement was signed by Resident R64 on 8/22/25. During interviews, the NHA stated the facility’s binding arbitration agreement was included in the admission paperwork and reviewed at admission, and later stated the resident signed his own paperwork because no one was answering the phone and the family thought the POA was stealing his money. The NHA and social worker also referenced a psychology note from 12/29/25 stating the resident had cognitive deficits and memory gaps and needed a POA to help with medical, financial, and other decisions, while also noting he was only mildly cognitively impaired and could choose who to assign as POA. The NHA ultimately confirmed the facility failed to ensure residents had the capacity to understand the terms of a binding arbitration agreement for Resident R64.
Failure to Obtain Representative Consent for Arbitration Agreement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to obtain consent for a binding arbitration agreement from the resident representative for one of three sampled residents, Resident 19, who did not have the capacity to make decisions. Resident 19’s record showed admission on 11/14/2001 and re-admission on [DATE] with diagnoses including metabolic encephalopathy. The MDS dated 10/30/2024 and 3/26/2026 indicated severely impaired cognition, and the H&P dated 10/25/2024 noted fluctuating capacity to understand and make decisions, while the H&P dated 1/23/2026 stated the resident did not have capacity to understand and make decisions. The arbitration agreement dated 10/24/2024 contained Resident 19’s signature. During interviews, the AD and AA stated the arbitration agreement is explained at admission and that the resident nodded when it was explained, but they did not verify whether the resident lacked capacity or check with nursing staff about the resident’s ability to make an informed decision. The AD stated the importance of making the resident or responsible party aware that signing the arbitration agreement means giving up the right to go to court. The DON stated that if a resident lacks capacity, signing the arbitration agreement would not be accurate. The facility policy stated the resident or representative must be given the terms in a manner understood, must verbally acknowledge understanding, and that a signature alone is not sufficient.
Arbitration Agreement Missing Required Resident Rights Language
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its Arbitration Agreement explicitly stated that neither the resident nor the resident’s representative was required to sign a binding arbitration agreement as a condition of admission or as a requirement to continue receiving care, and it also failed to state that the agreement allowed communication with federal, state, or local officials, including surveyors and the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman. This deficiency was identified for one resident reviewed for arbitration agreements, Resident #73, whose record showed admission on 02/01/2023 with diagnoses including atherosclerotic heart disease, polyneuropathy, insomnia, contracture of the left elbow, lack of coordination, muscle weakness, dementia, abnormal posture, COPD, dysphagia, hypertension, cognitive communication deficit, alcohol abuse, gastro-esophageal reflux, and chronic hepatitis. The most recent MDS showed a BIMS score of 15, indicating the resident was cognitively intact at the time of the assessment. During interview, the resident explained the purpose of the facility arbitration agreement but was not willing to review the signed agreements from 02/03/2023 or 03/25/2026 and could not explain why the agreement was resigned. Review of the 02/03/2023 agreement showed it did not contain the required statement that signing was not a condition of admission or continued care, and it did not state that the resident or anyone else could communicate with federal, state, or local officials, including surveyors, health department employees, or the State Long Term Care Ombudsman. The Admission Director confirmed these omissions and stated the resident’s agreement did not meet requirements when it was requested during the survey process.
Arbitration Agreement Missing Required Communication Language
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its binding arbitration agreement included language stating that the resident or anyone else, including a resident representative, was allowed to communicate with federal, state, or local officials, including federal and state surveyors, other health department employees, and representatives of the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman. This omission was identified for three of three sampled residents reviewed for the Arbitration Facility Task: Residents 33, 75, and 93. Resident 33 was admitted with diagnoses including major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. The resident’s H&P stated the resident could make needs known but could not make medical decisions, and the MDS indicated the resident had impaired cognition but could make self-understood and understand others, with a family member participating in assessment and goal setting. Resident 33 electronically signed the arbitration agreement, but the agreement did not contain the required communication language. Resident 75 was admitted and later readmitted with diagnoses including depression and systolic heart failure. The H&P stated the resident had capacity to understand and make decisions, and the MDS indicated intact cognition. Resident 93 was admitted and later readmitted with diagnoses including acute embolism, thrombosis of deep veins in the lower extremity bilaterally, and diverticulitis of the intestine; the H&P stated the resident had capacity to understand and make decisions. Both residents also signed arbitration agreements that did not include the language allowing communication with the listed officials. During interviews, the Admissions Coordinator and Administrator stated the language was not on the facility’s arbitration agreement and agreed it should be included so residents know they can communicate with those entities. The facility’s policy on Arbitration stated the agreement may not contain language that prohibits or discourages such communications.
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