The unlabeled containers created the potential for residents to receive medications beyond their recommended use period after opening, federal inspectors found during a complaint investigation at the North Fairfax Avenue facility.
Licensed Vocational Nurse 2 acknowledged the problem when inspectors questioned her about the undated containers at 9:56 a.m. The acetaminophen, used for minor aches and pain relief, and the docusate sodium liquid, prescribed to relieve constipation, both lacked the required opening dates.
"The acetaminophen and the DSS should have a date written on the containers when it was first opened so we know how long we can use it for," the nurse told inspectors.
The facility's own policy requires dating medication containers when they are first accessed. The policy states that multi-dose vials "that have been opened or accessed are dated and discarded within 28 days unless the manufacturer specifies a shorter or longer date for the open vial."
Yet the nurse responsible for administering medications from the cart had no way to determine how long the over-the-counter medications had been open.
The director of nursing confirmed the violation during an afternoon interview. She told inspectors at 1:07 p.m. that "the acetaminophen and the DSS containers should have the dates when it was initially opened written on the container to know how long it is safe to administer the medications."
Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure all drugs and biologicals are labeled according to accepted professional principles. The dating requirement exists because many medications lose potency or become unsafe after extended exposure to air and light.
Acetaminophen, one of the most commonly administered pain relievers in nursing homes, can degrade over time once a container is opened. The medication treats minor aches and pains that frequently affect elderly residents.
Docusate sodium liquid addresses constipation, a condition that affects many nursing home residents due to limited mobility, medication side effects, and dietary factors. The liquid formulation is particularly susceptible to contamination and degradation after opening.
The inspection found that Kennedy Care Center's medication labeling and storage policy acknowledges current pharmaceutical practices and federal requirements. The policy specifically addresses the 28-day rule for opened multi-dose vials unless manufacturers specify different timeframes.
But the gap between written policy and actual practice left residents vulnerable to receiving medications of unknown age and potentially compromised effectiveness.
The nurse's admission that she understood the dating requirement but failed to follow it highlights a breakdown in the facility's medication safety protocols. Her statement that dating helps staff "know how long we can use it for" demonstrated awareness of the safety rationale behind the regulation.
The director of nursing's confirmation that dating is necessary "to know how long it is safe to administer the medications" indicated that facility leadership understood both the requirement and its purpose.
The violation occurred despite Kennedy Care Center's written commitment to labeling medications according to accepted pharmaceutical practices. The facility's policy references consistency with federal and state requirements, yet staff failed to implement basic dating procedures for over-the-counter medications.
Federal inspectors classified the deficiency as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. However, the violation represents a fundamental failure in medication safety protocols that could have broader implications for resident care.
The undated containers meant staff had no way to determine whether medications had exceeded safe use periods. This created an ongoing risk that residents might receive degraded or potentially harmful medications without anyone knowing how long the containers had been open.
Kennedy Care Center operates at 619 N. Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. The December 30 inspection was conducted in response to a complaint about facility operations.
The facility must submit a plan of correction addressing how it will ensure proper dating of all opened medication containers and prevent similar violations in the future.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kennedy Care Center from 2025-12-30 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.