Certified Nurse Aide #23 was observed by the resident's son providing care to Resident #75 on January 12, 2025, according to federal inspection records. The family had made their request on December 14, 2024.
Resident #75 lived with dementia, anxiety, and major depressive disorder. Assessment records show she had severely impaired cognition and required staff assistance for all daily activities.
The son filed a formal grievance in July documenting his December request that Certified Nurse Aide #23 not be assigned to his mother's care.
"Residents and their representatives had the right to determine who provided them with care," the Director of Social Work told inspectors on September 29. The director said they weren't certain why the aide provided care to the resident on January 12.
Multiple supervisors confirmed the family's request should have been honored.
The Assistant Director of Nursing said Certified Nurse Aide #23 "should not have been assigned to, or provided cares to, Resident #75" after the December request. The assistant director said the unit manager would know how staff were supposed to be informed about care restrictions.
Registered Nurse Unit Manager #11 told inspectors the son requested that Certified Nurse Aide #23 not care for his mother. When the unit manager received this communication, they informed the Director of Nursing, Staffing Coordinator, floor nurses, and Certified Nurse Aide #23 directly.
"They stated Certified Nurse Aide #23 should not have provided care for Resident #75 on 01/12/2025 since the request was made on 12/14/2024," inspection records show.
The unit manager wasn't working on January 12 and said they were unaware why the aide took the assignment despite the family's explicit request.
The violation occurred during what inspectors called a "complaint" survey at the 46 Mt Ebo Road North facility. Federal regulations require nursing homes to honor residents' rights to self-determination through support of resident choice, including choice of care providers.
Putnam Ridge failed to ensure this resident choice was met, inspectors found. The aide continued providing care for nearly four weeks after being specifically told not to by both family members and facility supervisors.
No one at the facility could explain why the aide was assigned to the resident or why the aide accepted the assignment. The breakdown occurred despite multiple levels of notification within the facility's nursing hierarchy.
The resident's son witnessed the prohibited care being provided, leading to the formal grievance filed months later in July.
Federal inspection records show the facility violated New York state regulations governing resident rights and facility responsibilities. The violation was classified as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" affecting few residents.
The inspection found the facility's internal communication system failed to prevent an aide from caring for a resident whose family had explicitly requested different care providers. The resident remained dependent on staff for all daily activities while receiving care from someone her family had specifically asked to avoid.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Putnam Ridge from 2025-09-29 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.