Federal inspectors who visited the facility on January 31 found one room with no privacy curtain at all and no ceiling track to hang one. In a second room, staff had draped the privacy curtain over a window that lacked window coverings, leaving the resident's bed completely exposed. A third room had ceiling tracks but no curtain hanging from them.
The violations meant residents receiving care, changing clothes, or during other intimate moments could be seen by their roommates.
"Privacy was important for the dignity of the resident and it was just respectful to protect it," the Activity Director told inspectors. "It was important to protect residents' dignity for their self-esteem."
Staff across the facility understood the problem. An LVN told inspectors privacy and dignity were crucial for residents' self-esteem, explaining that "the facility was their home, and they deserved to feel comfortable in their environment."
A certified nursing assistant said protecting residents' privacy meant "keeping them from being exposed to other residents, and it was important for their dignity and self-esteem."
Another CNA emphasized that privacy and dignity were important "to let them know they were still valued."
Despite this widespread awareness among caregivers, the curtains remained missing or incorrectly positioned. Multiple staff members told inspectors that repair requests were supposed to be placed in a maintenance logbook, and that maintenance was responsible for hanging curtains.
One CNA admitted she "had not noticed the lack of curtains on the 100 Hall" and said maintenance handled curtain installation. She acknowledged that privacy was important "so they could change or receive care without being observed by other residents."
The Assistant Director of Nursing told inspectors that "each resident deserved to be treated with respect and dignity which included protecting their privacy." She said staff needed to remember that "the facility was their home."
When inspectors tried to interview the Director of Plant Operations by telephone, they could not reach him.
The facility's own 2017 policy on quality of life stated that "residents are provided with a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment." Yet the missing curtains directly contradicted this standard.
Federal regulators classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, but noted it placed residents at risk for having no visual privacy during care, which could decrease their feelings of self-worth.
The privacy failures affected multiple residents across the facility. In the room without any curtain track, no privacy barrier could be installed without major renovation. In the room where staff had repurposed the privacy curtain as a window covering, residents were left completely exposed during the most vulnerable moments of their care.
The inspection revealed a disconnect between staff understanding of dignity requirements and the facility's maintenance systems. While every employee interviewed recognized the importance of privacy for resident self-esteem and dignity, the basic infrastructure to provide that privacy was absent or broken.
For residents sharing rooms, the missing curtains meant intimate care became a public experience. Changing clothes, receiving personal hygiene assistance, or medical care that required exposure happened in full view of roommates.
The facility's failure to maintain proper privacy barriers violated federal requirements that nursing homes provide bedrooms where residents cannot see each other when privacy is needed. These regulations recognize that visual privacy during personal care is fundamental to maintaining human dignity in institutional settings.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Focused Care At Sherman from 2026-01-31 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.