Betty Dare Wellness: Daily Care Failures - NM
The resident, identified as R #24 in inspection records, had been in the dining room since 11:30 AM when inspectors found him at 1:55 PM on November 17. He appeared distressed and was trying to signal for help by whistling through his cupped hands.
"Staff had forgotten him," the resident told inspectors when they approached his table. "He had been trying to get someone's attention, but that no one had come for him."
The resident, who uses a wheelchair and cannot see or hear well, said he wanted to go back to his room and get out of his wheelchair. "He is blind and he can't hear and that he needs help to get back to his room," he explained to investigators.
Federal inspectors cited Betty Dare Wellness & Rehabilitation for failing to provide basic daily care assistance during their November 21 complaint investigation. The facility violated regulations requiring staff to help residents who cannot perform activities of daily living on their own.
The forgotten resident has Type 2 diabetes and legal blindness, conditions that make him completely dependent on staff for mobility assistance. His care plan specifically states he requires help with daily activities and uses a wheelchair, being dependent for both 50-foot and 150-foot distances.
A Restorative Nurse Aide confirmed the resident had been abandoned in the dining room. She told inspectors she was returning from lunch when she noticed he was still sitting there alone. The aide acknowledged that staff are supposed to stay in the dining area until all residents have left.
The facility's Director of Nursing admitted the violation during interviews with inspectors. She confirmed there should be a nurse in the dining room until residents finish eating and that staff should have helped the resident back to his room when he was done. "He should not have been left alone in the dining room," she told investigators.
The resident's care plan emphasizes his vulnerability due to legal blindness, stating the facility should "encourage [him] to go to the main dining room to get the assistance needed with meals." It also notes his potential for falls and injuries related to impaired mobility, requiring staff assistance with daily activities.
Beyond the dining room abandonment, inspectors found staff had neglected the resident's basic grooming needs. His fingernails had grown too long and some were jagged and broken, creating hazards for someone who already faces challenges with daily tasks.
"His fingernails are too long and they get caught on things," the resident told inspectors on November 18. He said he would like staff to cut his fingernails but had not received this basic care.
When inspectors observed his hands, they confirmed the fingernails were indeed long, with some appearing jagged and broken. An LPN at the facility acknowledged the resident needs his fingernails cut by staff and cannot trim them himself due to his disabilities.
The facility's care plan recognizes he needs assistance with personal care, yet staff failed to provide this fundamental grooming service. For a legally blind resident with diabetes, proper nail care is essential to prevent infections and injuries.
Federal inspectors determined these failures in basic care assistance were likely to affect the resident's dignity and health. The violations represent a pattern of neglect for someone whose multiple disabilities make him entirely dependent on staff attention and assistance.
The resident's experience illustrates the vulnerability of nursing home patients with sensory impairments. Unable to see staff or hear their responses clearly, he resorted to whistling through his hands as his only means of attracting attention in an empty dining room where he had been forgotten for hours.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Betty Dare Wellness & Rehabilitation LLC from 2025-11-21 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
Betty Dare Wellness & Rehabilitation LLC in Alamogordo, NM was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 21, 2025.
The resident, identified as R #24 in inspection records, had been in the dining room since 11:30 AM when inspectors found him at 1:55 PM on November 17.
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.