Sunnycrest Manor: Staff Removed Resident's Processor - IA
The incident at Sunnycrest Manor occurred during the evening meal on July 29, when the resident insisted he had more chicken on his plate. Staff A told him he had eaten it all.
The resident called Staff A names. Staff A announced he was removing the resident from the dining room because of disruptive behavior.
Staff D watched Staff A take the resident's processor and put it in his pocket. Staff D immediately notified the nurse manager.
During a phone interview on September 2 at 10:17 a.m., Staff A described what happened that evening. The resident "shoveled food into his mouth," he said. Dietary staff took time getting the resident chicken his family had left for him the day before, which upset the resident.
Staff A reminded him to slow down. The resident refused to listen.
Staff A took the resident's chicken and cut it into bite-size pieces to prevent choking. That angered the resident further.
When the resident finished eating, Staff A removed him from the table. The resident yelled at Staff A as he pushed his wheelchair toward the elevator.
"The resident's behavior frustrated him," Staff A told inspectors. He removed the resident's processor, thinking it would calm the resident down.
Staff A put the processor back on once they were in the elevator. He told the resident he needed to calm down and had been eating too fast. The device was off for less than a minute.
The facility terminated Staff A's employment because of his decision to remove the resident's processor.
Federal inspectors observed the resident during the noon meal on September 2. Staff sat with him and provided constant cues and reminders to eat slowly, eat one bite at a time, and take a drink between bites.
The resident had episodes of coughing. Staff asked him to take one bite at a time.
At 1:00 p.m. that same day, inspectors interviewed the resident in his room. He sat in a wheelchair.
The resident said Staff A was "pretty good" and that "some staff were fired because they did not perform as they should."
When asked if Staff A ever removed his processor, the resident said yes, when Staff A gave him a shower.
When asked specifically if Staff A ever removed his processor after dinner, the resident confirmed it happened.
"Yes, I had chicken left," the resident said. "He put it back on. I guess he was tired of hearing me complaining."
The facility's Abuse and Crime Prevention policy, revised in November 2022, states that all residents have the right to be free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, acts of personal degradation, and any physical or chemical restraint not required to treat medical symptoms.
The inspection classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents.
Staff A's admission that he removed the hearing device to calm the resident down represents exactly the type of unauthorized restraint the federal policy prohibits. Taking away a resident's ability to hear, even briefly, constitutes a form of sensory deprivation.
The resident's matter-of-fact response during the interview suggests he viewed the incident as Staff A being "tired of hearing me complaining" rather than recognizing it as an improper restriction of his rights.
The timing reveals additional problems with the facility's response. The incident occurred on July 29, but inspectors didn't interview Staff A until September 2, more than a month later. Staff D reported the violation immediately to the nurse manager, but the investigation timeline remains unclear from the inspection report.
The resident's family had left chicken for him the day before the incident, indicating they were involved in his care and meal preferences. The delay in getting this special food contributed to the resident's frustration during dinner.
Staff A's description of cutting the chicken into bite-size pieces shows he understood choking prevention protocols. His decision to remove the hearing processor, however, crossed from appropriate care intervention into unauthorized restraint.
The resident's coughing episodes during the September 2 meal observation demonstrate ongoing swallowing difficulties that require careful monitoring. Staff provided appropriate verbal cues and reminders during this meal, contrasting with the July 29 incident.
The facility's immediate termination of Staff A suggests administrators recognized the severity of removing a resident's hearing device, even briefly. The action violated both federal regulations and facility policy regarding resident rights and restraints.
The resident's acknowledgment that Staff A removed the processor during showers indicates this may not have been an isolated incident. Hearing devices typically need removal for bathing, but the resident's casual mention suggests a pattern of the staff member controlling when the device was on or off.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure residents can communicate effectively and receive information in formats they can understand. Removing a hearing processor directly interferes with these rights.
The inspection found the facility in violation of federal tag F550, which covers resident behavior and facility practices related to psychosocial well-being. This tag typically applies when staff responses to resident behavior are inappropriate or potentially harmful.
Staff A's statement that removing the processor would "calm the resident down" reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of appropriate de-escalation techniques. Taking away someone's ability to hear increases confusion and anxiety rather than providing comfort.
The resident's insistence that he had more chicken, despite staff saying he had eaten it all, might indicate cognitive issues that require specialized approaches. However, removing his hearing aid was not an appropriate response to confusion or argumentative behavior.
The dining room incident escalated from a simple disagreement about food to name-calling and ultimately the removal of an assistive device. Proper training might have prevented this escalation through different communication techniques.
The facility's policy explicitly prohibits acts of personal degradation, which removing someone's hearing processor could constitute. The brief duration doesn't minimize the violation of the resident's dignity and rights.
Staff D's immediate reporting to the nurse manager shows at least one employee understood the inappropriateness of Staff A's actions. This suggests the facility had created an environment where staff felt comfortable reporting concerns about colleague behavior.
The resident now receives appropriate support during meals, with staff providing consistent verbal cues and monitoring for choking risks. This demonstrates the facility's ability to provide proper care when staff follow established protocols.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Sunnycrest Manor from 2025-09-02 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
Sunnycrest Manor in Dubuque, IA was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 2, 2025.
The incident at Sunnycrest Manor occurred during the evening meal on July 29, when the resident insisted he had more chicken on his plate.
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.