HONOLULU, HI — Federal health inspectors cited Arcadia Retirement Residence for failing to uphold residents' rights to dignity and self-determination following a complaint investigation completed on November 21, 2025. The Honolulu facility has not submitted a plan of correction for the documented deficiency.
Federal Complaint Investigation Reveals Rights Deficiency
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) investigation found Arcadia Retirement Residence deficient under regulatory tag F0550, which requires nursing homes to honor each resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and the exercise of their rights.
The citation falls under the broader category of Resident Rights Deficiencies, a classification that addresses the fundamental protections guaranteed to every individual living in a federally regulated care facility. Federal regulations under 42 CFR §483.10 establish that residents retain their rights to dignity, respect, and autonomy upon admission to a nursing facility.
The deficiency was classified at Scope/Severity Level D, indicating an isolated incident where no actual harm was documented but where the potential existed for more than minimal harm to residents. While Level D represents the lower end of the federal severity scale, the designation confirms that inspectors identified conditions that could have resulted in meaningful negative outcomes for residents.
What Resident Dignity Rights Require
Under federal nursing home regulations, the right to a dignified existence encompasses several critical protections. Facilities are required to treat each resident with respect and consideration at all times. This includes recognizing each person's individuality, supporting their ability to make choices about daily life, maintaining privacy during personal care, and ensuring that communication needs are met.
Self-determination — another component of the F0550 tag — means residents must be allowed to participate in decisions about their own care, daily routines, and activities. Facilities cannot make unilateral decisions that override a resident's expressed preferences without proper justification and documentation.
When these rights are not consistently upheld, the consequences extend beyond the immediate incident. Research in geriatric care consistently demonstrates that residents who experience diminished autonomy and dignity face increased rates of depression, social withdrawal, and accelerated cognitive decline. The psychological impact of feeling disrespected or powerless in one's own living environment can significantly affect overall health outcomes and quality of life.
No Correction Plan on File
A notable aspect of this citation is that Arcadia Retirement Residence has not submitted a plan of correction to federal regulators. When a facility receives a deficiency citation, it is typically required to submit a detailed plan outlining the specific steps it will take to address the problem, prevent recurrence, and ensure ongoing compliance.
The absence of a correction plan means there is no documented commitment from the facility to address the conditions that led to the citation. Federal regulations require facilities to submit these plans within a specified timeframe, and failure to do so can result in escalating enforcement actions, including civil monetary penalties and other sanctions.
Industry Standards for Dignity-Centered Care
Accreditation bodies and geriatric care organizations emphasize that dignity-centered care should be embedded in every aspect of facility operations. Staff training programs should include regular instruction on respectful communication, cultural sensitivity, and person-centered care approaches. Facilities meeting best-practice standards typically conduct routine audits of staff-resident interactions and maintain feedback mechanisms that allow residents to report concerns without fear of retaliation.
Person-centered care models — now considered the standard in quality nursing home operations — prioritize each resident's preferences, history, and individual needs as the foundation for all care decisions. Facilities that adopt these models generally see improved resident satisfaction scores and fewer regulatory citations related to rights violations.
What This Means for Residents and Families
Families with loved ones at Arcadia Retirement Residence can review the full inspection findings through the CMS Care Compare database at medicare.gov. The federal system provides detailed records of all nursing home inspections, deficiency citations, and enforcement actions.
Residents and family members who believe their rights have been violated can file complaints with the Hawaii Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program or directly with CMS. These agencies investigate complaints independently and can compel corrective action when warranted.
The full inspection report contains additional details about the circumstances surrounding this citation. Readers seeking complete information about the findings at Arcadia Retirement Residence are encouraged to review the official federal inspection documentation.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Arcadia Retirement Residence from 2025-11-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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