Ketchikan Med Ctr: 10 Deficiencies, Staff Gaps - AK
The prohibition emerged during staff planning for a July 18 picnic at [NAME] Lake. When floor and activities staff discussed bringing Resident #5 and Resident #9, both diagnosed with dementia, the administrator at Ketchikan Med Center New Horizons Transitional Care interrupted their conversation from her office.
"Absolutely not," the administrator stated, according to Staff #71's account to federal inspectors. The administrator insisted "these residents will never leave the unit."
Staff #71 attempted to explain that both residents had routinely participated in outings without incident. The staff member told inspectors it would be inappropriate to exclude them based solely on their dementia diagnoses.
The administrator refused to budge.
Both residents missed the lake picnic.
The facility's own policies contradicted the administrator's blanket ban. The Activities Therapy policy, revised in March 2025, explicitly states the program serves residents with "early to advanced dementia including Alzheimer's" and provides "outings to community events."
The facility's Resident Dignity Policy, updated in February 2025, requires staff to "assist resident to attend activities of their choosing" as part of maintaining residents' "self-esteem and self-worth."
The medical director confirmed both residents had wandering histories but emphasized they had "attended many outings in the past without concern." The doctor told inspectors the residents would not require one-on-one supervision during community trips.
"Caution was always needed, but there was no rule that these residents couldn't attend outings," the medical director stated during a September 9 interview.
The chief nursing officer acknowledged hearing staff concerns about the dementia exclusion policy but admitted she "did not know enough about the federal regulations at the time."
Federal nursing home regulations require facilities to accommodate residents' preferences and maintain their dignity. Blanket restrictions based on diagnosis alone violate these standards, particularly when residents have demonstrated safe participation in activities.
The inspection occurred after a complaint was filed about the facility's treatment of dementia residents. Inspectors found the administrator's categorical ban constituted a violation of resident dignity requirements.
Staff #71's detailed account revealed the administrator's inflexible stance despite evidence supporting the residents' ability to safely participate. The staff member's advocacy for the residents highlighted the conflict between administrative convenience and resident rights.
The facility serves residents with various conditions, including "early to advanced dementia," according to its own policies. The administrator's declaration effectively created a two-tier system where dementia residents faced automatic exclusion from community activities regardless of their individual capabilities.
Both Resident #5 and Resident #9 had established track records of successful outing participation. Their sudden exclusion represented a significant restriction of their freedom and dignity without medical justification.
The medical director's assessment directly contradicted the administrator's position. As the facility's physician leader, the medical director's opinion that outings remained appropriate for both residents carried significant weight.
The administrator's "never leave the unit" declaration suggested a permanent policy change affecting not just the lake picnic but all future community activities for dementia residents.
Staff members found themselves caught between following the administrator's directive and upholding the facility's stated commitment to resident dignity and choice. The conflict exposed fundamental disagreements about appropriate care for dementia residents.
The inspection revealed how administrative decisions made without clinical input can override both resident preferences and established safety records, reducing quality of life for vulnerable residents who had previously enjoyed community participation.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Ketchikan Med Ctr New Horizons Transitional Care from 2025-09-09 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
KETCHIKAN MED CTR NEW HORIZONS TRANSITIONAL CARE in KETCHIKAN, AK was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 9, 2025.
The prohibition emerged during staff planning for a July 18 picnic at [NAME] Lake.
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.