Kalkaska Memorial Health: Supervision, Safety Failures - MI
The resident, identified as R3 in inspection records, first entered Kalkaska Memorial Health Center on September 28, 2023, and was later readmitted. Federal inspectors found no hot liquid assessment had been completed since either admission date.
R3's December 2, 2025 cognitive test scored 13 out of 15 points, indicating they were mentally intact. The resident's rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis raises particular concerns about their ability to grip and manipulate containers safely.
The facility's own policy, effective July 17, 2024, explicitly states that "all residents should be assessed for their ability to handle and consume containers of hot food and beverage on admission, quarterly, annually, and when there is a significant change in the resident's status."
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing actual harm to few residents. The assessment gap represents a complete breakdown in following established safety protocols designed to prevent burns and scalding injuries.
Hot liquid assessments evaluate whether residents can safely hold cups, understand temperature risks, and have sufficient motor control to avoid spills. For residents with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, which affects joint function and grip strength, these evaluations are particularly critical.
The inspection occurred following a complaint and resulted in citations under federal regulation F 0689, which governs accident prevention and safety measures in nursing homes. The facility failed to demonstrate any systematic approach to identifying residents who might need assistance or modified containers for hot beverages.
R3's case illustrates how administrative oversights can compromise resident safety, even when clear policies exist to prevent such gaps in care assessment.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kalkaska Memorial Health Center from 2026-01-02 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: This article is based on inspection data downloaded directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via Medicare.gov. CMS releases inspection reports in bulk; we publish the findings as documented by state surveyors in the official Form CMS-2567 Statement of Deficiencies.
Plan of correction: The CMS report we receive does not include the facility's plan of correction. Facilities submit plans of correction separately to state survey agencies and those responses may not be reflected in CMS data at the time of publication. The absence of a plan of correction in our data does not mean one was not filed. Readers who want information about corrective steps taken are encouraged to contact the facility directly or their state survey agency.
Corrections may have occurred: Inspection reports reflect conditions observed on the date of the survey. Facilities may have implemented corrections, staffing changes, additional training, or other remediation since the report was issued. We report what CMS provides and encourage readers to seek current information from the facility.
Editorial process: Inspection findings are extracted from CMS source documents and synthesized using AI, reviewed for factual accuracy against the original report by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: August 9, 2026 · Our methodology
Kalkaska Memorial Health Center in Kalkaska, MI was cited for violations during a health inspection on January 2, 2026.
The resident, identified as R3 in inspection records, first entered Kalkaska Memorial Health Center on September 28, 2023, and was later readmitted.
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.