Clearwater Nursing Center Cited for Serious Deficiencies
Libby Hastings • October 6, 2025
Clearwater Nursing Center Cited for Serious Deficiencies, Including Resident Sexual Abuse
KABC routinely reviews nursing home inspection reports to help families stay informed and advocate for safe, quality care. A recent inspection of Clearwater Nursing Center, Clearwater, completed in September 2025, uncovered serious deficiencies, including a substantiated case of resident-to-resident sexual abuse.
Key Findings from the Inspection
Inspectors documented multiple failures at Clearwater Nursing Center:
- Failure to protect residents from sexual abuse. The report describes an incident where a resident sexually assaulted another resident. Staff failed to ensure adequate supervision and safeguards, resulting in direct harm. Protecting residents from abuse is one of the most basic obligations of any nursing facility.
- Delayed and inadequate response to the abuse incident. Staff did not act quickly enough to separate residents, report the incident, or ensure proper protections were in place afterward.
- Medication administration errors. Inspectors found lapses in following physician orders and proper procedures for giving medications, creating unnecessary health risks.
- Inadequate infection control practices. Staff did not consistently follow hand hygiene and PPE protocols, exposing residents to preventable infections.
- Poor care planning and follow-up. Care plans were not updated to reflect residents’ changing needs, leaving them vulnerable to gaps in treatment and support.
The Facility’s Right to Appeal
Clearwater Nursing Center has the right to appeal these findings. Facilities may contest deficiencies if they believe inspection results are inaccurate. However, while the appeal process unfolds, these serious deficiencies remain on record and available to the public.
Why This Matters
No resident should ever experience abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions in a nursing home. Federal regulations are in place to protect the health, dignity, and rights of older Kansans. When facilities fail to meet these standards, residents pay the price.
At KABC, we stand firmly with residents and families. We advocate for stronger protections, more effective oversight, and a long-term care system that prioritizes people over profits. Families deserve to know when problems occur, and residents deserve to live in environments where they are safe from harm.
For those who want to learn more, inspection reports
are available through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services. A copy of the report mentioned above can be found here. KABC is also here to help families understand deficiencies and take action to advocate for their loved ones.
This is a special blog post provided by Jami Boone, Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Moving into a nursing home is often seen as a loss—the loss of independence, familiar routines, and personal choice. But in Kansas, the PEAK program is changing that story. Through this pay-for-performance initiative, administered by Kansas State University and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), nursing homes are putting residents at the center of every decision and creating communities where people feel truly at home. PEAK encourages nursing homes to adopt person-directed care, giving residents control over their daily lives. Participating homes can earn financial incentives—ranging from $0.50 to $3.00 per bed, per day—based on how deeply they implement these practices. But the true value of PEAK isn’t in the funding—it’s in transforming life inside the home, fostering dignity, choice, and joy for residents. Imagine moving into a new home where you can bring your favorite bedding, chair, and treasured belongings. You don’t have to give up who you are or what you love. Instead, you gain new opportunities, new friendships, and new family connections, along with access to activities you may have thought were out of reach. At the same time, you maintain your existing community roles, personal routines, and comforts, blending familiarity with new possibilities. Residents in PEAK homes have the freedom to decide how their living space looks and feels, what, where, and when they eat, when they wake up or go to bed, and even which risks they are willing to take. That sense of control and individuality is central to maintaining dignity, identity, and joy, making daily life meaningful and fulfilling. The benefits extend beyond residents. When staff are empowered to build deep, personal relationships with residents, they stop seeing their work as a job and start seeing it as an extension of home. Staff get to know the people they care for so well that they notice even the smallest changes—whether it’s a favorite meal left untouched or a subtle shift in mood. This heightened awareness allows potential issues to be addressed sooner, improving healing and raising the overall level of care. The bonds between staff and residents not only create a more home-like environment but also foster staff satisfaction, because when work feels like home, people show up fully, care deeply, and make every interaction meaningful. This mutual respect and compassion ripple outward, creating an atmosphere that families can feel the moment they walk through the door. PEAK homes offer families additional peace of mind, ensuring that when a loved one moves into care, they enter a place that honors their individuality, values their voice, and supports their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Kansas continues to lead by example, showing that when dignity and choice are prioritized, everyone benefits. PEAK homes aren’t just places to live—they’re places to thrive. To find a PEAK participating nursing home in your area, visit: https://www.kdads.ks.gov/partners-providers/nursing-facilities-adult-care-home-program/peak-person-centered-care . For more information about the PEAK program, contact Jami Boone , Adult Care Homes Quality Program Manager, KDADS, at jami.boone@ks.gov or 785-296-0010 . Note from KABC : While KABC supports efforts that aim to improve quality of life and person-centered care in Kansas nursing homes, participation in the PEAK program does not necessarily indicate that a facility is consistently meeting those standards in practice. Financial incentives or program participation alone do not guarantee that residents are receiving the care, dignity, and respect they deserve. KABC encourages families and residents to review a variety of quality measures—including inspection reports, staffing levels, and complaint histories—when evaluating long-term care options.
On Monday, October 13th, Dan Goodman, Executive Director of Kansas Advocates for Better Care (KABC), delivered testimony before the Robert G. Bethell Joint Committee on Home & Community Based Services & KanCare Oversight. His remarks focused on the urgent need to strengthen Kansas’ long-term care system through sustainable funding and workforce investments. Goodman urged legislators to provide additional funding for the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Frail Elderly waiver , noting projected shortfalls of $27 million in FY26 and $70 million in FY27. Without intervention, hundreds of older Kansans could face placement on a waitlist as early as this fall—delaying access to critical in-home services and increasing the risk of premature institutionalization. He also highlighted the need to support and stabilize the state’s long-term care workforce by exploring innovative approaches used in other states. For example, New Mexico’s Competitive Pay for Professionals program has helped attract and retain workers by linking higher wages to improved reimbursement rates and accountability measures. Goodman suggested Kansas consider similar models to strengthen its caregiving workforce and ensure providers can offer competitive pay. KABC remains committed to advocating for policies that promote quality care, protect older adults, and sustain a strong, well-supported caregiving system across Kansas. Read KABC’s full testimony here: View Testimony (PDF) Watch a full recording of the committee here: YouTube Link