Life Care Center of Kennewick: Dementia Patient Discharged - WA
The resident had been admitted for follow-up care after a surgical procedure, along with heart failure and dementia. A cognitive assessment documented severely impaired mental function.
On August 31, 2025, staff had the resident sign discharge paperwork and loaded them into a transfer van bound for another facility. Licensed Practical Nurse Staff A handled the transfer.
Hours later, the resident's representative arrived at Life Care Center asking where their family member was.
"Staff A stated they told the RR they were transferred to another facility," inspectors wrote. "Staff A stated the RR became upset and stated they had not been notified Resident 1's discharge."
The nurse told investigators they had simply assumed the family had been notified.
Staff A wasn't the only one who knew better. Director of Nursing Services Staff B confirmed during interviews that facility policy required notifying representatives before discharging residents with altered mental status.
"Staff B stated when a resident has an altered mental status the facility was to discuss and/or inform the residents' representatives of transfers or discharges, and for Resident 1 the process was not followed," the inspection report stated.
The family representative confirmed to state investigators by phone the next day that no one from Life Care Center had contacted them about the discharge.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to immediately notify residents' doctors, family members, and representatives of situations affecting the resident, including room changes and transfers. The rule exists to keep families involved in healthcare decisions and prevent delays in care.
State investigators found the facility's failure placed residents "at risk of not having their representatives involved in their health care decisions, and a delay in care and services."
The violation occurred despite clear protocols. Washington state regulations specifically require facilities to inform residents' representatives of transfers or discharges when residents have altered mental status.
Life Care Center of Kennewick failed to follow its own established procedures for a resident whose dementia had progressed to severely impaired cognition. The resident was unable to make informed decisions about their own care, making family notification even more critical.
The nursing home's assumption that someone else had handled the notification left a vulnerable resident's family completely unaware of a major change in their loved one's living situation and medical care.
For families of dementia patients, such communication failures can be devastating. Representatives need advance notice to coordinate care, arrange transportation to visit at the new location, and ensure continuity of medical treatment.
The state cited Life Care Center for minimal harm with potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. But for the family who arrived to find their loved one simply gone, the impact was immediate and personal.
The facility's Director of Nursing acknowledged the breakdown in protocol during the state investigation. The Licensed Practical Nurse who handled the transfer admitted making assumptions rather than following established notification procedures.
State investigators completed their review on September 11, 2025, documenting the violation of Washington Administrative Code requirements for resident notifications.
The case highlights how communication failures in nursing homes can leave families of cognitively impaired residents suddenly cut off from critical information about their loved one's care and whereabouts.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Life Care Center of Kennewick from 2025-09-11 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
LIFE CARE CENTER OF KENNEWICK in KENNEWICK, WA was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 11, 2025.
The resident had been admitted for follow-up care after a surgical procedure, along with heart failure and dementia.
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.