Sayre Health Care: Failed PTSD Care Plan - PA
Resident 11 at Sayre Health Care Center performed all her personal hygiene, bathing, and toileting independently. She told inspectors on April 2 that she could not accept care assistance in those areas from a male caregiver because of her trauma history. All the traumatic events she described related to male relationships and treatment by males.
The facility had documented her PTSD diagnosis since November 25, 2024. A quarterly assessment from September identified her condition as involving intrusive thoughts related to traumatic events that can manifest as flashbacks where the person feels they are reliving the trauma.
Yet the care plan initiated November 28, 2024, noted only that her PTSD was "caused from recent events." It made no reference to the specific traumatic events the resident described to inspectors. The plan included no interventions for outside psychological resources, no restriction of male caregivers for personal care, and no medications to treat her PTSD symptoms.
The facility's consulting psychologist documented in November 2025 that the resident was taking Sertraline, an antidepressant, and Clonazepam, an anti-anxiety medication, for her PTSD diagnosis. But the documentation failed to note the traumatic events that supported the diagnosis, potential triggers that could cause her to relive the trauma, or non-medicinal interventions necessary to prevent those triggers.
By January 2026, something changed. Progress notes from the consulting psychologist dated January 8, March 12, and March 26 no longer included the resident's PTSD diagnosis. The notes continued listing her Sertraline and Clonazepam medications, but without explanation for why she needed them.
When inspectors interviewed the Director of Nursing and Nursing Home Administrator on April 2, they raised concerns that the resident's care plan and outside psychological treatment failed to address her reported trauma and care preferences.
The facility had not accounted for the resident's experiences and preferences to eliminate or mitigate triggers that could cause re-traumatization.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to develop comprehensive care plans based on residents' individual needs and preferences. For residents with trauma histories, this means creating trauma-informed care approaches that recognize how past experiences affect current care needs.
The resident's case illustrates how facilities can miss critical connections between a resident's history and their care requirements. Her trauma involved violence from multiple male figures across her lifetime. Her insistence on female-only personal care wasn't a preference but a necessary accommodation for someone whose PTSD stemmed from male-perpetrated violence.
The psychological documentation showed a troubling pattern. Initially, providers acknowledged her PTSD and prescribed appropriate medications. But by early 2026, the diagnosis disappeared from progress notes while the medications continued. This suggested either inadequate communication between providers or insufficient attention to the underlying condition driving her treatment.
The inspection found the facility failed to develop a trauma-informed plan of care despite having clear information about the resident's needs. The violation affected one resident but highlighted broader questions about how nursing homes address mental health conditions rooted in trauma.
For Resident 11, the facility's oversight meant living with untreated trauma triggers in an environment where male staff could be assigned to provide intimate personal care. Her ability to perform these tasks independently may have masked the deeper issue of what would happen if her condition deteriorated and she required assistance.
The inspection occurred April 3, 2026, and found minimal harm with potential for actual harm to the resident.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Sayre Health Care Center from 2026-04-03 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 14, 2026 · Our methodology
SAYRE HEALTH CARE CENTER in SAYRE, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 3, 2026.
Resident 11 at Sayre Health Care Center performed all her personal hygiene, bathing, and toileting independently.
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 SAYRE HEALTH CARE CENTER?
- Resident 11 at Sayre Health Care Center performed all her personal hygiene, bathing, and toileting independently.
- 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 SAYRE, PA, (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 SAYRE HEALTH CARE CENTER 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 395101.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check SAYRE HEALTH CARE CENTER'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.