Rochester Residence: 11% Weight Loss Ignored - PA
The resident, identified as R1 in state inspection records, weighed 177.5 pounds in November 2024. By May 2025, their weight had plummeted to 157 pounds — an 11.5% loss over six months that far exceeded the facility's own thresholds for significant weight changes.
The steepest decline occurred between April and May 2025, when the resident dropped from 170 pounds to 157 pounds in a single month. That 7.6% monthly loss triggered multiple red flags under the facility's weight monitoring policy, which defines significant weight changes as 5% in one month, 7.5% in three months, or 10% in six months.
The resident's weight loss exceeded all three thresholds simultaneously. Yet when state inspectors reviewed the clinical record in August, they found no documentation of interventions to address the May weight loss.
Registered Dietitian Employee E5 confirmed during an August 12 interview that the facility failed to properly monitor the resident's nutrition status and failed to address the significant weight loss documented in May 2025.
The facility's own weight monitoring policy, dated January 7, 2025, required monthly weight checks for all residents and immediate development of monitoring schedules upon admission. The policy mandated that weights be recorded when obtained and that staff monitor for the specific percentage changes that occurred with Resident R1.
The resident had been admitted to Rochester Residence in September 2024 and was readmitted at an unspecified later date. Their medical history included high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and lower back pain, according to facility assessment records.
The weight decline followed an erratic pattern that should have triggered closer scrutiny. After the November weigh-in of 177.5 pounds, the resident's weight dropped to 171.5 pounds in December, then jumped to 183 pounds in January before beginning a steady decline: 175.5 pounds in February, 170 pounds in March and April, then the sharp May drop to 157 pounds.
The 26-pound swing between the January high of 183 pounds and the May low of 157 pounds represented a 14.2% fluctuation that went unaddressed despite clear policy requirements for intervention.
State inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. The finding cited Pennsylvania regulations requiring proper management of resident care and adequate nursing services.
The inspection was conducted in response to a complaint filed against the facility. Rochester Residence and Care Center is located at 174 Virginia Avenue in Rochester, a borough about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.
Unintended weight loss in nursing home residents can signal serious underlying problems including inadequate nutrition, medication side effects, depression, or undiagnosed illness. Federal research shows that significant weight loss increases risks of infection, falls, pressure sores, and death among elderly residents.
The facility's failure to document interventions meant that whatever caused the resident's dramatic weight loss — whether medical, nutritional, or psychological — went uninvestigated and untreated for months while the decline continued.
The inspection report does not indicate whether the resident's weight loss was eventually addressed or whether their condition improved after the state investigation. No follow-up weights were documented in the inspection findings.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Rochester Residence and Care Center from 2025-08-12 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Rochester Residence and Care Center
- Browse all PA nursing home inspections
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 17, 2026 · Our methodology
ROCHESTER RESIDENCE AND CARE CENTER in ROCHESTER, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 12, 2025.
The resident, identified as R1 in state inspection records, weighed 177.5 pounds in November 2024.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.