Lakewood Health System
Lakewood Health System in STAPLES, MN — inspection on February 19, 2026.
Found 2 citations. Severity: Standard violations.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct within required timeframes. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns and are subject to follow-up verification.
Inspection Findings
the resident was safe to self-administer medications and would obtain orders from the provider. DON
reviewed 6/13/25, identified if the resident desires to self-administer medications, an assessment is
carry out this responsibility, during the care planning process.
The licensed nurse will determine resident's ability to self-administer medications by a means of a skill assessment, which is conducted on a quarterly basis.
The results of the licensed nurse's assessment are recorded on the medication self-administration assessment, which is placed in the resident's medical record. If a resident has orders for nebulizers the nurse may assess that the resident is able to deliver the nebulizer after set up and then will go back after nebulizer has run and shut off the machine and take care of the equipment.
245420 02/19/2026
Lakewood Health System 401 Prairie Avenue Northeast Staples, MN 56479
During an observation on 2/17/26 at 2:14 p.m., R39 had approximately one quarter inch long white facial hair across his lower face and neck area. At 4:53 p.m., R39 stated he would like to be shaven daily, but was unable to determine the last time he was shaved.
During a phone interview on 2/17/26 at 5:31 p.m., family member (FM)-A stated R39 would like to be shaved every day but was not sure if the staff had the time to shave R39.
During an observation on 2/18/26 at 9:15 a.m., R39 was seated in his wheelchair in the activity room doing exercises with other residents and staff. R39 continued to have white facial hair present across his lower face and neck. At 10:56 a.m., R39 was in wheelchair in sitting area with other residents, while they were watching television. R39 continued to have facial hair. R39 informed surveyor he needed to be shaved.
During an interview on 2/18/26 at 11:06 a.m., nursing assistant (NA)-A indicated she had completed morning cares with R39, and R39 had whiskers today. NA-A stated the bath aides usually shaved R39 on Mondays. NA-A indicated she had offered to shave R39 at times, but did not offer to shave R39 today. NA-A stated her usual practice was to offer shaving to residents if facial hair was present and if refused to let the nurse know.
During an interview on 2/18/26 at 1:37 p.m., licensed practical nurse (LPN)-A confirmed R39 had whiskers today, and stated she had shaved R39 about twenty minutes ago, because he needed to be shaved. LPN-A stated the nursing assistants were responsible to shave residents. LPN-A stated they did have a few residents the nurses were to document on the treatment administration records (TAR) that they were specifically shaved. LPN-A indicated she was unaware R39 wanted to be shaved daily, but would discuss with unit manager to possibly add R39 to the TAR to assure they offered R39 to be shaved daily.
During an interview on 2/18/26 at 1:41 p.m., director of nursing (DON) indicated her expectation was to offer shaving daily, unless otherwise care planned. DON stated it was important to offer to shave residents to make them feel neat and clean, and possibly for infection prevention. On 2/18/26 at 3:48 p.m., DON e-mailed indicating the facility did not have a policy for shaving residents, but nursing staff were taught to offer shaving daily per resident preference.