The Springs Nursing: Nutrition Deficiencies - OK
Federal inspectors found the facility violated requirements to convey resident funds within 30 days of death. The business office manager acknowledged they needed to return the money to the family but had no documentation of their conversations with federal officials about a $362 Social Security overpayment.
Resident 101 had dementia and was transferred to the emergency room for evaluation. The resident died at the hospital on an undated day, according to facility records reviewed by inspectors in November.
Two family members visited The Springs and gathered the resident's personal belongings. But $920.09 remained in the facility's trust account.
The facility's own policy states that "a discharged or expired resident's trust account should be closed within 30-60 days" and specifically notes "30 days per Oklahoma State guidelines." Despite this clear requirement, months passed without the money being returned.
The complication arose from a Social Security Administration overpayment. Trust account records showed the resident's balance had grown to $1,282.09, but the Social Security Administration had determined $362 in benefits were overpaid and needed to be returned.
A facility letter to the Social Security Administration inquired about a check that had been applied to the resident's trust account after death. The letter noted the resident had "expired at the hospital," but the facility appeared uncertain about how to handle the overpayment situation.
Social Security Administration records confirmed the overpayment and showed a balance of $362 was due back to the federal government. An electronic payment reminder specified this amount needed to be repaid.
The facility eventually sent a $362 check to the Social Security Administration, according to a letter on facility letterhead. But the remaining $920 sat untouched in the trust account.
When inspectors questioned the business office manager about the delay, they said they had "attempted to find out about overpayment from the SSA for Resident 101" and would look for documentation of conversations with Social Security officials and the resident's family.
Hours later, the business office manager admitted they had made calls to Social Security between two unspecified dates but "did not have documentation of the calls." They acknowledged they "would need to convey funds to the resident's family."
The administrator told inspectors that funds were "typically conveyed within 30 days of death by the home office." They said the business office manager had "attempted to work out the overpayment from the SSA, but did not have documentation."
The facility maintains trust accounts for 32 residents, according to inspection records. The trust transaction history for Resident 101 covered an extended period, showing the account remained active long after death.
Activity reports showed the business office manager had placed at least one call to the Social Security Administration. A representative told them to return the overpaid funds, but the facility struggled to navigate the process while a family waited for money that belonged to their deceased relative.
The $362 Social Security overpayment represented less than half of the total balance, yet it paralyzed the facility's ability to return the remaining $920 to the family within the required timeframe.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to notify residents and their representatives about account balances and to convey funds promptly upon death. The purpose is to ensure families can access money that belongs to them during an already difficult time.
The Springs' violation was classified as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" and affected "few" residents. But for the family of Resident 101, the impact was direct and personal - their relative's money sat in a nursing home account while staff made undocumented phone calls and wrote letters to federal bureaucrats.
The facility's transfer and discharge report confirmed Resident 101's dementia diagnosis and discharge date, but the trust account closure dragged on far beyond the 30-day requirement. The business office manager's admission that documentation was missing highlighted the administrative breakdown that left a family waiting.
Inspectors found the facility failed in its basic obligation to handle resident funds properly. The Social Security overpayment issue, while legitimate, did not excuse the months-long delay in returning money that clearly belonged to the deceased resident's estate.
The $920 represented a significant sum for most families dealing with end-of-life expenses. Every day the money remained in the facility's trust account was another day the family couldn't access funds that were rightfully theirs.
The Springs' inability to document its communications with Social Security officials revealed a troubling lack of record-keeping for such an important financial matter. The business office manager's acknowledgment that they "would need to convey funds" came only after federal inspectors arrived to investigate.
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: June 24, 2026 · Our methodology
THE SPRINGS SKILLED NURSING AND THERAPY in MUSKOGEE, OK was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 20, 2025.
Federal inspectors found the facility violated requirements to convey resident funds within 30 days of death.
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.