Washington Ctr for Aging Svcs: Unsafe Discharges - DC
Resident #221 arrived at Washington Center for Aging Services with multiple diagnoses including chronic respiratory failure, morbid obesity, and sleep apnea. She required total assistance with bathing and lower body movement, substantial help with upper body tasks, and continuous oxygen therapy at 2 liters per minute.
The facility's discharge planning policy required the social worker to counsel residents and families about available services. Employee #41, the social worker and discharge coordinator, assured the family she would arrange home care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and continuous oxygen services.
None of it happened.
The resident was discharged on June 7, 2025, at noon. A nursing progress note documented she went home with a facility oxygen cylinder, with her daughter promising to return it. The discharge summary noted she had "completed rehab therapy successfully" and would continue receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and home health services in the community.
But the promised services never materialized. The family filed a complaint on June 24, stating the facility "didn't even have operable transport oxygen for her to go home with."
During interviews with federal inspectors, the family explained they were using an oxygen concentrator their mother had owned for two years. The family member providing care was wheelchair-bound, and the resident had suffered multiple falls since discharge, though without injury.
The family called Employee #41 repeatedly after discharge. She never called back.
When inspectors interviewed Employee #41 on August 11, she admitted she had no documented evidence of coordinating home care services. She claimed she made a verbal request to a local home care agency that "frequently comes into the facility," but couldn't prove the conversation occurred or whether the agency accepted or denied services.
Even more troubling, Employee #41 told inspectors she didn't coordinate continuous oxygen therapy services because "she was not aware the resident needed oxygen." This contradicted the nursing discharge summary, which clearly documented the resident's need for oxygen therapy and noted she left with a facility oxygen cylinder.
The home care agency representative confirmed to inspectors that he had verbally informed Employee #41 his agency couldn't provide services for the resident. He couldn't remember the specific date and had no documentation of the denial.
The resident's admission assessment had documented her extensive care needs. She scored 15 on the Brief Interview for Mental Status, indicating intact cognitive function, but required a wheelchair and substantial to maximum assistance with most daily activities. She was receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, and oxygen therapy during her stay.
Federal regulations require facilities to ensure transfers and discharges meet residents' needs and preferences, with proper preparation for safe transitions. The facility's own policy mandated the social worker counsel families about available services.
Instead, a cognitively intact resident with chronic respiratory failure was sent home to a wheelchair-bound caregiver without the promised support services. The social worker who made the promises disappeared after discharge, leaving the family to manage complex medical needs alone with outdated equipment.
The resident continues to live at home with her wheelchair-bound family member, using a two-year-old oxygen concentrator and no professional home care services. The falls continue.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Washington Ctr For Aging Svcs from 2025-08-29 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
WASHINGTON CTR FOR AGING SVCS in WASHINGTON, DC was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 29, 2025.
Resident #221 arrived at Washington Center for Aging Services with multiple diagnoses including chronic respiratory failure, morbid obesity, and sleep apnea.
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.