Arlington Gardens: Painful Overgrown Toenails - CA
Federal inspectors found the resident on August 25 with curved toenails extending far beyond normal length on both feet. The woman told investigators her toenails were painful.
The treatment nurse measured each nail during the inspection. The resident's right great toenail had grown to 2.5 centimeters. Her left great toenail measured 2.0 centimeters. Most other toenails ranged from 0.7 to 1.1 centimeters in length.
The resident had not seen a podiatrist since April 10, despite documented fungal infections and abnormal nail growth that required specialized care. Her medical record showed she suffered from onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails, along with dystrophic nails characterized by abnormal shape, color, texture and growth. She also had paronychia, an inflammation of skin surrounding the toenails, with painful nail borders.
The treatment nurse acknowledged during the inspection that nursing staff should have informed podiatry services about the resident's condition. "It is the responsibility of the TN and the certified nurse assistant to care for residents' toenails," she told inspectors. "The nursing staff should have informed podiatry of Resident 1's long toenails."
The facility's own policy, dating to 2001, requires daily cleaning and regular trimming of residents' nails. The policy states that proper nail care prevents skin problems around nail beds and stops residents from accidentally scratching and injuring their skin with overgrown nails.
Staff are specifically instructed to stop routine care and report to supervisors when they encounter evidence of ingrown nails, pain, or nails that are too hard or thick to cut easily. All three conditions applied to this resident.
The Director of Nursing confirmed during interviews that certified nurse assistants, treatment nurses and licensed nurses are responsible for conducting nail care during routine resident care. She acknowledged that staff should have scheduled podiatry services for the resident's toenails.
The resident was admitted to Arlington Gardens with multiple serious health conditions including dementia, hypertension and acute kidney failure. Her medical record indicated she lacked decision-making capacity, making her entirely dependent on staff for personal care.
A history and physical examination completed on January 31 documented her cognitive impairment. Yet despite her vulnerability and documented foot problems, no podiatrist examined her feet for more than four months after her April appointment.
The inspection was triggered by a complaint filed against the facility. Investigators classified the violation as causing minimal harm but creating potential for actual harm, noting the resident faced risk for avoidable skin injuries from her neglected foot condition.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to provide appropriate foot care to prevent complications that can lead to serious infections, particularly dangerous for elderly residents with diabetes or circulation problems. Overgrown toenails can cause pain, difficulty walking, and increased fall risk.
The facility's failure extended beyond a single oversight. Multiple staff members — certified nurse assistants providing daily care, treatment nurses conducting assessments, and licensed nurses supervising care — all failed to address the resident's deteriorating foot condition or arrange necessary podiatry services.
The resident's painful toenails represented a basic care failure at a facility responsible for meeting the daily needs of vulnerable elderly residents who cannot advocate for themselves.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Arlington Gardens Care Center from 2025-08-27 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
ARLINGTON GARDENS CARE CENTER in RIVERSIDE, CA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 27, 2025.
Federal inspectors found the resident on August 25 with curved toenails extending far beyond normal length on both feet.
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.