F0584 F584: 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.
D

Facility Fails to Maintain Safe and Clean Environment

Ferncliff Nursing Home Co IncRhinebeck, New York Survey Completed on 02-27-2025

Summary

The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment as observed during the recertification and abbreviated surveys. In the shower room on the 3A unit, there were black stains on the shower curtain, brown discoloration on the tiles at the base of the toilet, and black and orange stains on the tile grout in the shower stall. Additionally, a window air conditioner caused a cold draft in the room. Resident #18 reported the shower room was cold and had mildew. The Director of Housekeeping acknowledged that the shower curtain should have been replaced and the tiles needed cleaning, but they had not received any reports about these conditions. The Director of Maintenance was unaware of the issues but acknowledged the need for addressing the grout discoloration and the draft caused by the air conditioner. In another incident, soiled linens were found on the floor next to Resident #27's bed. A Certified Nurse Aide confirmed that soiled linens should be bagged and placed in a linen hamper, not on the floor. Additionally, a broken handrail with a sharp edge was observed at the entrance to the 3A dining room. The Maintenance Worker and the Director of Maintenance were not aware of the broken handrail, but the Director of Maintenance stated that handrails would be added to the list of items to check during rounds.

Plan Of Correction

Plan of Correction: Approved March 21, 2025 F 584 Safe/ Clean/ Comfortable Homelike Environment I. Immediate Corrections: - The Housekeeping staff cleaned the Shower room on unit 3A. The black and orange dis-coloration along the base of the shower stall was removed. Completed 2/26/2025. - The Housekeeping staff cleaned shower curtains. Black stains on the bottom of curtain were removed. Completed 2/25/2025. - The Housekeeping staff cleaned the toilet. Discolored brown stains on tiles around the base of toilet were removed. Completed 2/26/2025. - The window air conditioner unit that was allowing cold draft to enter the shower stall was removed by the maintenance staff. Completed 2/26/2025. - The Certified Nursing Assistant picked up the soiled linen with feces that was next to the bed in Resident # 27 room. The Linen was bagged and placed in hamper. Completed 2/20/2025. - The broken handrail on the right side of the dining room entrance was repaired by the maintenance staff. Completed 2/26/2025. II. Plan of Correction to identify other areas potentially affected - The facility acknowledges that all residents have the potential to be affected by this practice. - The Director of Plant Operations will inspect all areas throughout the facility for same deficiencies. Any deficiencies found will be scheduled for correction. Completed 2/28/2025. III. Systemic Changes - All maintenance staff, housekeeping and nursing will receive additional education, and all participants will understand the requirements of providing a Safe, Clean, Comfortable, and Homelike Environment for residents in compliance with 483.10. The Director of Plant Operations and Staff Development has been assigned responsibility for the education of staff. - The Policy & Procedures were reviewed, and it was determined that no changes to the policy were necessary. IV. Quality Assurance Monitoring - The Director of Plant Operations/Housekeeping will conduct audits on all rooms to ensure a homelike environment is maintained weekly x 4 weeks and then monthly for 3 months unless any significant trends are identified. Any concerns during audits will be addressed immediately to ensure compliance with standards of care or practice. - The Director of Plant Operations or Designee will review monthly audits for any cases of non-compliance. The Director of Plant Operations or Designee will report the result of these audits to the QAPI committee on a monthly basis, as well as correction plan if warranted. Responsibility: Director of Plant Operations

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0584 citations
Unclean and Poorly Maintained Resident Rooms
D
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

Unclean and Poorly Maintained Resident Rooms: Two residents were affected by environmental issues in their rooms. One resident’s windowpane had a crack extending the length of the window for months, and staff gave conflicting statements about awareness of the damage. Another resident reported housekeeping was not sweeping or mopping, and trash and a liquid spill remained on the floor between the beds across multiple observations. Resident council notes also documented repeated housekeeping concerns about room cleanliness.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Bathroom Sink Faucet Sprayed Water Onto Floor
D
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

Bathroom Sink Faucet Sprayed Water Onto Floor: A resident with RA, PTSD, and recurrent MDD had a bathroom sink faucet that sprayed water outward and onto the floor instead of downward. The resident said the problem had been present for months and had been reported to CNAs, and a CNA confirmed it had been reported to the charge nurse. Observation and interview with the MD confirmed the faucet issue and that a work order had been received but not repaired because other repairs were prioritized.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Broda Chair Not Kept in Good Repair
D
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

A resident with moderate cognitive impairment and dependence for ADLs was observed using a broda chair with multiple cracked cushions, exposed foam, and stuffing visible in the headrest and side areas. Staff said broken equipment should be reported for repair or replacement, but the chair remained in use and hospice had not yet been notified; the DON stated equipment was expected to stay in good repair and that the cracked cushions could not be cleaned appropriately.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe and Unclean Facility Environment
E
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Unclean Facility Environment: Surveyors observed multiple environmental deficiencies, including an unlocked maintenance storage room with stacked AC units, dirty vents, black substance on windowsills, walls, doors, handrails, and equipment, missing or broken light covers, holes in walls, and debris in hallways and the dining room. Staff interviews showed housekeeping cleaned vents and AC units, but filters were not changed and documentation practices were inconsistent, while the facility policy required a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Widespread Odors and Environmental Disrepair in Resident Care Areas
E
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and homelike environment, with strong, persistent urine and feces odors noted throughout multiple halls and confirmed by staff. On two nursing units, hallways and resident rooms contained torn flooring, food debris, broken blinds, dirty and leaking toilets and sinks, rusted and corroded fixtures, missing outlet covers with oxygen concentrators plugged in, exposed light sockets, unmade and visibly soiled beds, and black, mold-like substances on walls and around toilet bases. Bathrooms had missing ceiling tiles, cracked door facings with brown stains, used briefs and torn toilet paper on floors, and toilets with brown or rust-like buildup. Outside, the patio and fencing area had broken and rotted railings, exposed rusted nails, fallen palm fronds, and overgrown vegetation, and the Administrator acknowledged the area was not safe for residents. Housekeeping and maintenance staff described daily cleaning and a work-order process, but the Maintenance Director reported being unaware of many of the observed issues, and the DON confirmed there was no specific environmental cleaning policy despite job descriptions and a general policy requiring a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Missing Resident Cell Phone Not Addressed
D
F0584 F584: 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.
Short Summary

A resident’s cell phone went missing and was not found or replaced, despite staff awareness and documentation that the resident’s personal effects included a phone with charger. The grievance record addressed missing clothing items but did not address the phone, and both the LPN/Resident Care Manager and Administrator stated the issue did not meet expectations.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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