Greenwood Health: Kitchen Staff Violated Food Safety - IN
The violations occurred during three separate observations at Greenwood Health and Living Community on April 12, spanning from morning food preparation through the noon meal service. Both workers had approximately quarter-inch facial hair that remained exposed while they handled food, plated meals, and moved through kitchen areas.
Dietary Aide 2 was first observed at 9:10 a.m. walking through the kitchen with facial hair above and below his lip and along his jawline. The same aide continued working uncovered through the noon meal preparation, placing food into transport carts and plating meals at the steamtable in the South Dining Room until after 1:00 p.m.
Dietary Aide 3 worked the same shift with exposed facial hair above his lip. Inspectors documented him taking food temperatures, assisting with meal plating, and retrieving supplies from the kitchen while his facial hair remained uncovered throughout the entire observation period.
During the 11:58 a.m. observation, both aides were preparing and serving the noon meal while their facial hair remained exposed. Dietary Aide 2 placed prepared food into transport carts for the South Dining Room service. Dietary Aide 3 worked at the steamtable in the North Dining Room, taking temperatures and plating meals for residents.
The violations continued into the afternoon meal service. At 1:00 p.m., inspectors found Dietary Aide 2 still plating meals at the South dining room steamtable with his facial hair uncovered. Dietary Aide 3 was retrieving food items and supplies from the kitchen for the North Dining Room service, also with exposed facial hair.
The facility's own policy explicitly prohibited the behavior inspectors documented. A staff member interviewed during the inspection confirmed that hair was required to be covered when working in the kitchen and during meal service.
The Corporate Dietary Consultant provided inspectors with the facility's Personal Hygiene for Dietary Staff policy, dated August 1, 2024. The policy stated that associates involved in storing, preparing, distributing, and serving food to residents must wear hair restraints that effectively cover all facial hair, including mustaches, sideburns, and beards, to prevent contamination of food, equipment, and utensils.
State regulations reinforced these requirements. The Indiana Food Establishment Sanitation Requirements, which took effect April 15, 2025, mandate that food employees wear hair restraints designed to effectively keep hair from contacting exposed food.
The inspection found the facility failed to ensure foods were served in a sanitary and safe manner during all three kitchen observations. The violations affected many residents, as both dietary aides were involved in preparing and serving meals throughout the facility's dining areas.
Both workers moved freely between food preparation areas and dining rooms while serving meals to residents. Dietary Aide 2 handled transport carts and worked at steamtables in the South Dining Room. Dietary Aide 3 took food temperatures, assisted with plating, and worked at the North Dining Room steamtable.
The exposed facial hair created potential contamination risks during multiple stages of food service. Both aides were observed in the kitchen where meals were prepared, at steamtables where food was plated, and in dining areas where residents received their meals.
Federal inspectors documented the violations occurring over a span of nearly four hours, from 9:10 a.m. through 1:05 p.m. The extended timeframe demonstrated that the facility failed to correct the sanitation violations even as inspectors continued observing kitchen operations.
The facility's policy had been in place since August 2024, eight months before the inspection. Staff were expected to know and follow the hair covering requirements, yet both dietary aides worked multiple shifts with exposed facial hair while handling resident food.
State food safety requirements had been updated just one year before the inspection, in April 2025. The regulations specifically required hair restraints designed to keep hair from contacting exposed food, yet the facility allowed staff to work without proper covering.
The violations occurred during regular meal service when residents depended on the facility to provide safe, sanitary food preparation. Both dietary aides were integral to the meal service operation, taking temperatures, plating food, and transporting meals to dining areas where residents ate.
Inspectors classified the violations as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm, but noted that many residents were affected by the facility's failure to maintain sanitary food service standards.
The facility's Corporate Dietary Consultant was present during the inspection and provided the facility policy to inspectors. However, the policy requirements were not being followed by kitchen staff during active food preparation and service to residents.
Both dietary aides continued working with exposed facial hair despite facility policy, state regulations, and the presence of federal inspectors documenting their violations throughout the morning and afternoon meal periods.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Greenwood Health and Living Community from 2026-04-16 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Greenwood Health and Living Community
- Browse all IN 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 12, 2026 · Our methodology
GREENWOOD HEALTH AND LIVING COMMUNITY in GREENWOOD, IN was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 16, 2026.
Both workers had approximately quarter-inch facial hair that remained exposed while they handled food, plated meals, and moved through kitchen areas.
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 GREENWOOD HEALTH AND LIVING COMMUNITY?
- Both workers had approximately quarter-inch facial hair that remained exposed while they handled food, plated meals, and moved through kitchen areas.
- 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 GREENWOOD, IN, (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 GREENWOOD HEALTH AND LIVING COMMUNITY 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 155412.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check GREENWOOD HEALTH AND LIVING COMMUNITY'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.