Safety Report: Avalon Healthcare Bellingham
How to read this report. Every nursing home receives some citations. One citation does not mean a facility is unsafe. Look at how serious the findings were, whether the same problems keep coming back, and whether things are getting better or worse. Learn how inspections work.
Official ratings
Medicare's star ratings compare nursing homes within the same state for health inspections. A 5-star facility performed better than most in its state; a 1-star facility performed worse than most.
Stars are calculated by CMS, not by us. We do not create our own safety score.
Serious documented violations
0Immediate jeopardy citations (severity J–L)
2Actual harm citations (severity G–I)
3Requirements cited on more than one inspection
G
Government finding: Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F686
G
Government finding: Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F689
Citations by topic
2Abuse, neglect & exploitation
3Infection control
2Medications & pharmacy
2Accidents & supervision
Topics use CMS's own deficiency categories; “accidents & supervision” counts tag F689 (free of accident hazards / adequate supervision). Counts cover the last three inspection cycles, including complaint investigations.
Is it getting better or worse?
More citations in the most recent cycle (10) than in the cycle before (8).
An inspection cycle is roughly one year and includes the standard inspection plus complaint investigations. Counts depend partly on how many complaint investigations occurred, so treat small changes with caution. Red bars include at least one serious citation.
Staffing and rating trends will appear as we collect monthly CMS releases. We have one month so far, so a staffing trend cannot yet be determined.
Repeat findings
These requirements were cited on more than one inspection date in the last three cycles.
| Requirement | Times cited | Inspection dates |
|---|---|---|
| Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (F689) | 2 | December 5, 2025; September 3, 2024 |
| Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (F686) | 2 | December 5, 2025; April 24, 2025 |
| Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals. (F684) | 2 | December 5, 2025; December 6, 2024 |
Fines and enforcement
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 2025 | Fine | $32,298 |
Federal civil money penalties and Medicare/Medicaid payment denials. State-level penalties may not be included.
Complete inspection history
December 5, 2025 — 10 citations
E
Provide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F688 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F887 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Infection Control Deficiencies · F883 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F761 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F695 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F686 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Create and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F655 · corrected January 5, 2026
D
Prevent the use of unnecessary psychotropic medications or use medications that may restrain a resident's ability to function.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F605 · corrected January 5, 2026
April 24, 2025 — 1 citation (includes serious) · complaint investigation
G
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F686 · complaint · corrected May 15, 2025
January 13, 2025 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F580 · complaint · corrected January 29, 2025
December 6, 2024 — 6 citations
E
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F684 · corrected January 3, 2025
E
Ensure the activities program is directed by a qualified professional.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F680 · corrected January 3, 2025
D
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F690 · corrected January 3, 2025
D
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F677 · corrected January 3, 2025
D
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F656 · corrected January 3, 2025
D
Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F551 · corrected January 3, 2025
September 3, 2024 — 3 citations (includes serious) · complaint investigation
G
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Actual harm to a resident (not immediate jeopardy) · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F689 · complaint · corrected September 19, 2024
D
Respond appropriately to all alleged violations.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Deficiencies · F610 · complaint · corrected September 19, 2024
D
Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F583 · complaint · corrected September 17, 2024
March 25, 2024 — 1 citation · complaint investigation
D
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F584 · complaint · corrected April 9, 2024
January 11, 2024 — 7 citations
E
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Pattern · Infection Control Deficiencies · F882 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Provide or get specialized rehabilitative services as required for a resident.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F825 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Ensure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Pharmacy Service Deficiencies · F757 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Provide safe, appropriate pain management for a resident who requires such services.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · F697 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F658 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Assess the resident completely in a timely manner when first admitted, and then periodically, at least every 12 months.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · F636 · corrected February 1, 2024
D
Let each resident or the resident's legal representative access or purchase copies of all the resident's records.
No actual harm, but potential for more than minimal harm · Isolated · Resident Rights Deficiencies · F573 · complaint · corrected February 1, 2024
Source: CMS Health Deficiencies dataset (data as of October 1, 2026); full inspection narratives on Medicare Care Compare