The Springs Nursing: Food Safety Violations - OK
Federal inspectors found The Springs Skilled Nursing and Therapy failed to convey funds within the required timeframe for Resident #101, who died at a hospital after being sent from the facility for emergency evaluation.
The facility's own policy stated that "a discharged or expired resident's trust account should be closed within 30-60 days. (30 days per Oklahoma State guidelines)."
But months after the resident's death, the money remained in the facility's control.
Trust transaction records showed Resident #101 had a remaining balance of $920.09 in the facility trust account. A separate trust statement showed the resident had a closing balance of $1,282.09, though inspection documents don't explain the discrepancy between these amounts.
The resident, who had been diagnosed with dementia, was discharged from the facility and sent to the emergency room for evaluation. Two family members came to the nursing home and gathered the resident's personal belongings. The resident died at the hospital.
But the money stayed put.
The business office manager told inspectors they had attempted to work out an overpayment issue with the Social Security Administration. Social Security records showed the agency had overpaid benefits to Resident #101, creating a $362 balance that was due back to the government.
A Social Security Administration statement showed the overpayment had been made to the resident. The billing statement indicated the $362 balance was due by a specific date. An electronic payment reminder from Social Security confirmed the $362 payment was due back to the agency.
The facility wrote to Social Security inquiring about a check that had been applied to the trust account after the resident's death. Activity reports showed the business office manager placed calls to Social Security, where a representative told them to return the overpaid funds.
The nursing home eventually cut a $362 check payable to Social Security to resolve the overpayment.
During the November inspection, the business office manager stated at 9:05 a.m. that they had attempted to find out about the Social Security overpayment for Resident #101. They said they would look for documentation regarding conversations with Social Security and the resident's family.
Later that day at 4:22 p.m., the business office manager told inspectors they had made calls with Social Security between certain dates but did not have documentation of those calls. They acknowledged they would need to convey the remaining funds to the resident's family.
The administrator explained that funds were "typically conveyed within 30 days of death by the home office." They confirmed the business office manager had attempted to work out the Social Security overpayment but admitted they did not have documentation of those efforts.
The inspection revealed the facility maintained trust accounts for 32 residents total. But the failure involved just one resident whose family waited months beyond the legal deadline to receive money that belonged to them.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to notify residents of account balances and convey funds promptly upon discharge, eviction, or death. The rule exists to protect residents and families from facilities that might otherwise hold onto money indefinitely.
Oklahoma's 30-day requirement is stricter than the facility's own written policy, which allowed up to 60 days. But even under the facility's more lenient internal standard, the delay appeared to exceed acceptable timeframes.
The inspection classified the violation as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" and affecting "few" residents. But for the family of Resident #101, the delay meant waiting months to receive nearly $1,000 that should have been returned within 30 days of their loved one's death.
The case illustrates how administrative complications can leave families waiting for money during an already difficult time. While the facility worked to resolve the Social Security overpayment, the remaining funds sat in the nursing home's trust account rather than being returned to the family who had already collected their relative's belongings and were dealing with the aftermath of the death.
The business office manager's admission that they lacked documentation of their Social Security conversations suggests the facility may not have maintained adequate records of their efforts to resolve the overpayment issue. This lack of documentation made it difficult for inspectors to verify the facility's claims about their attempts to handle the situation properly.
Trust account violations can signal broader problems with how nursing homes handle residents' personal finances. When facilities fail to return money promptly after death, families may question whether their loved ones' funds were properly managed during their stay.
The inspection found the facility held trust accounts for 32 residents, indicating the nursing home regularly manages personal funds for people in its care. The single violation suggests most accounts were handled appropriately, but the failure to convey Resident #101's funds within the required timeframe violated both state law and the facility's own policies.
For families already coping with the loss of a loved one, delays in receiving their relative's remaining funds add unnecessary stress to an already challenging situation. Oklahoma's 30-day requirement recognizes that prompt return of personal funds is both a legal obligation and a matter of basic respect for grieving families.
The resident's dementia diagnosis adds another layer to the case, as cognitive impairment can complicate financial arrangements and make proper fund management even more critical. Facilities caring for residents with dementia have heightened responsibilities to protect their personal assets and ensure prompt resolution of financial matters.
The Springs Skilled Nursing and Therapy's failure to document their Social Security conversations also raises questions about the facility's record-keeping practices for resident financial matters. Proper documentation protects both residents and facilities by creating a clear paper trail of financial transactions and communications.
The family of Resident #101 waited months to receive $920.09 that should have been returned within 30 days, money that remained locked in the facility's trust account while administrators worked to resolve a separate Social Security overpayment issue.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for The Springs Skilled Nursing and Therapy from 2025-11-20 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: August 4, 2026 · Our methodology
THE SPRINGS SKILLED NURSING AND THERAPY in MUSKOGEE, OK was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 20, 2025.
The facility's own policy stated that "a discharged or expired resident's trust account should be closed within 30-60 days.
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.