Prescott House: Abuse Prevention Failures - MA
The incident at Prescott House occurred on September 8, when CNA #1 entered the resident's room and found their call light activated. According to the nursing assistant's own account to investigators, she turned off the call bell to silence the wall alarm, then deliberately removed the cord from the resident's side rail.
"She pulled the privacy curtain and proceeded to assist Resident #1's roommate," the inspection report states. "CNA #1 said she knew the assigned CNA was coming and did not want Resident #1 to ring the call bell again."
The nursing assistant admitted she "unwrapped the call bell cord from Resident #1's side rail, put it on the ground (floor) out of his/her reach and proceeded to care for the roommate."
Another employee witnessed the violation and reported it immediately. CNA #2 approached Unit Manager #1 on the morning of September 8 to report that CNA #1 had pulled the call bell cord away from the resident and tossed it out of reach.
Unit Manager #1 escalated the incident without delay. During an interview on November 25, she told inspectors she immediately reported what happened to the Director of Nurses after learning about it from CNA #2.
The Director of Nurses confirmed receiving the report that morning and conducting her own investigation. When she interviewed CNA #1 on September 8, the nursing assistant provided a stark admission about her actions.
"CNA #1 stated that Resident #1 had his/her call light turned on, she wanted it to stop sounding, so she pulled it away from his/her reach," the Director of Nurses told inspectors.
The facility terminated CNA #1's employment following the investigation.
Call bells represent residents' primary means of requesting assistance for medical emergencies, bathroom needs, pain management, or other urgent concerns. Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure residents can easily summon staff when needed.
The violation occurred while CNA #1 was providing care to the resident's roommate behind a privacy curtain. Rather than responding to the resident's call for help or ensuring the assigned nursing assistant would handle it, she chose to silence the system entirely by making it physically impossible for the resident to use.
The nursing assistant's explanation revealed she understood another CNA was coming to help the resident but wanted to prevent any additional call bell activation during her work with the roommate. This decision prioritized her convenience over the resident's safety and access to care.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as having caused minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. However, the incident demonstrates how individual staff decisions can compromise resident safety and violate fundamental care standards.
The facility's response included immediate reporting up the chain of command and swift termination of the responsible employee. Unit Manager #1's quick escalation to the Director of Nurses and the Director's same-day investigation showed appropriate administrative response to the violation.
CNA #2's willingness to report a colleague's misconduct proved crucial in addressing the incident. Without that employee stepping forward, the resident might have remained without access to their call bell for an unknown period.
The inspection report does not detail how long the resident remained without call bell access or whether they experienced any adverse consequences during that time. It also does not specify what type of assistance the resident initially needed when they activated the call light.
The violation occurred at a 140 Prescott Street facility that serves North Andover residents requiring skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Prescott House from 2025-11-25 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
PRESCOTT HOUSE in NORTH ANDOVER, MA was cited for abuse-related violations during a health inspection on November 25, 2025.
The incident at Prescott House occurred on September 8, when CNA #1 entered the resident's room and found their call light activated.
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.