Meridian Meadows: Diabetic Left with Long, Dirty Nails - ID
Resident #50, who suffers from muscle wasting and diabetes, told inspectors on March 31 that he preferred his fingernails shorter. When asked if he had requested nail care from staff, he said he was unaware he could ask.
The next day, his nails remained unchanged. This time, when inspectors asked the same question, Resident #50 said he had asked staff to cut his nails.
His fingernails stayed long, thick and yellow.
On April 2, LPN #1 examined Resident #50's hands alongside inspectors. The nurse acknowledged his thumbnails were long and needed cutting. She noted the nails were yellow and dirty, requiring soaking before trimming.
When inspectors asked who performs nail care for residents, LPN #1 said nurses handle the task. Asked how often nail care occurs, she said she would need to check Resident #50's orders.
She couldn't find any.
Eight minutes later, LPN #1 reviewed Resident #50's medical records and confirmed no nail care order existed. The Assistant Director of Nursing told inspectors that physician orders are required for diabetic nail care.
The ADON said such orders should appear in physician notes from admission. After reviewing Resident #50's complete file, she confirmed no diabetic nail care order existed and promised to clarify with the provider.
Resident #50 was admitted to the facility with multiple diagnoses including muscle wasting, atrophy and diabetes. His care plan, revised on March 30, documented that he required partial to moderate assistance with activities of daily living.
The facility's nail care policy, implemented in December 2024 and revised at the end of 2025, states that routine cleaning and inspection of nails should occur during daily care. The policy requires assessments of resident nails upon admission to determine condition, needs and preferences.
Only licensed nurses may trim or file fingernails of diabetic residents, according to facility policy.
The policy instructs staff to report unusual nail conditions to physicians, including curling, color changes, separation from the nailbed, redness, bleeding, pain, odor or infection. It identifies diabetes as a condition that increases risk for foot and nail problems.
Nails should be kept smooth to avoid skin injury, the policy states.
Federal inspectors found the facility failed to ensure residents dependent on staff for daily living assistance received nail care services. The violation placed Resident #50 at risk of embarrassment that could affect him socially due to his fingernail appearance.
The inspection occurred on April 3, nearly three months after the facility revised its nail care policy. Resident #50's care plan had been updated just four days before inspectors first observed his neglected fingernails.
During the three-day period inspectors observed Resident #50, his fingernails remained consistently long, thick and discolored. Staff acknowledged the problem and the policy requirements but took no action to provide care.
The facility's policy emphasized that residents with diabetes face increased risks for nail problems, yet staff left a diabetic resident with visibly problematic nails unattended. The policy required routine nail inspection during daily care, but staff failed to address obvious nail care needs during regular assistance with activities of daily living.
Inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm. The finding affected few residents, with Resident #50 being the only case reviewed for nail care compliance during the inspection.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Meridian Meadows Transitional Care from 2026-04-03 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Meridian Meadows Transitional Care
- Browse all ID nursing home inspections
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 14, 2026 · Our methodology
Meridian Meadows Transitional Care in Meridian, ID was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 3, 2026.
Resident #50, who suffers from muscle wasting and diabetes, told inspectors on March 31 that he preferred his fingernails shorter.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at Meridian Meadows Transitional Care?
- Resident #50, who suffers from muscle wasting and diabetes, told inspectors on March 31 that he preferred his fingernails shorter.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in Meridian, ID, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from Meridian Meadows Transitional Care or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 135147.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check Meridian Meadows Transitional Care's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.