Good Samaritan Society: Hour-Long Call Light Waits - ND
Resident #30 reported waiting "up to half an hour or more" for staff responses and said "they forget about me." The resident's family member told inspectors their loved one had waited up to an hour for help and "has had urinary incontinence due to waiting."
The facility's own call light logs documented the delays. Between July 17 and August 18, Resident #30 waited 17 to 22 minutes or longer on nine separate occasions, with the longest wait reaching 27 minutes.
Other residents faced similar delays. Resident #39 waited 25 minutes or more on seven occasions between August 14 and 18, with one response taking 50 minutes. "It can take 45 minutes to get my call light answered and I talked to staff, and nothing changed," the resident told inspectors.
Resident #26 experienced waits of 25 minutes or longer on six occasions during the same period, with the longest delay stretching to 53 minutes. "It can take 30 minutes for staff to answer my call light," the resident said.
A confidential resident identified only as Resident A told inspectors: "They are short of staff here, it takes 30 minutes to answer my call light."
The facility's own policy, revised in July, requires staff to "go to the resident's room promptly" when call lights are observed and "respond to request as soon as possible."
An administrative nurse confirmed during an August 21 interview that the call light logs showed staff had failed to answer calls promptly.
Five confidential staff members interviewed on August 20 told inspectors that the facility "worked short most shifts" and that "administration was aware" of the ongoing shortages. The staffing problems extended beyond nursing care to include "resident care areas and in the dining room with feeding assistance."
Federal inspectors determined the facility failed to provide sufficient nursing staff to meet residents' needs, affecting at least four people who required assistance.
The inspection found that inadequate staffing "does not promote each resident's rights, physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being" and fails to "provide a safe environment for the residents."
Call light response times serve as a critical safety measure in nursing homes, where residents may need immediate help for medical emergencies, assistance getting to bathrooms, or help after falls. Extended delays can lead to serious complications, particularly for residents with mobility limitations or urgent medical needs.
The August inspection was conducted in response to complaints about the facility's operations.
Good Samaritan Society - Park River houses residents who depend on staff assistance for daily activities including toileting, medication management, and emergency response. When call lights go unanswered, residents may attempt to handle needs independently, potentially leading to falls or other injuries.
The documented delays occurred across multiple shifts and over an extended period, suggesting systemic staffing problems rather than isolated incidents. Resident #30's experience of being forgotten on the toilet illustrates how staffing shortages can compromise basic dignity and health.
Multiple residents and family members independently reported similar problems to inspectors, indicating the delays were a known issue affecting numerous people at the facility.
The inspection identified violations of federal regulations requiring nursing homes to provide adequate staffing at all times. Facilities must ensure sufficient licensed nurses and support staff are available around the clock to meet each resident's individual needs.
Resident #39's statement that speaking to staff about the delays produced no improvement suggests management was aware of the problem but had not implemented effective solutions.
The confidential staff interviews revealed that administration knew about the chronic understaffing but had not resolved the shortages affecting both direct care and dining assistance.
Resident #30's family member described concerns about call light response times "on various shifts," indicating the problem was not limited to specific times of day or particular staff members.
The facility's call light logs provided objective evidence of the delays, with some responses taking nearly an hour despite the policy requiring prompt attention to resident requests.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Good Samaritan Society - Park River from 2025-08-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
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 20, 2026 · Our methodology
GOOD SAMARITAN SOCIETY - PARK RIVER in PARK RIVER, ND was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 21, 2025.
Between July 17 and August 18, Resident #30 waited 17 to 22 minutes or longer on nine separate occasions, with the longest wait reaching 27 minutes.
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.