Deficient Practice in Resident Relocation Following Plumbing Failure
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a safe, sanitary, and homelike environment for residents after an emergency plumbing issue rendered one of the locked units uninhabitable. As a result, residents from the affected unit were relocated to various areas throughout the facility, including the dining/activity room, day care room, and medical record room. These rooms, not originally intended for resident accommodation, were repurposed to house multiple residents in close proximity, with beds, call bells, and privacy curtains set up as temporary measures. Staff interviews confirmed that the relocation was due to ongoing plumbing repairs, and that the dining room, typically used for meals and activities, was now occupied by ten residents, while the day care and medical record rooms housed additional residents. Observations and interviews revealed that residents were eating meals at their bedside tables, and some residents' personal belongings, such as clothing, were stored in a maintenance area that also contained housekeeping equipment and tools. The maintenance and housekeeping staff confirmed that this area was being used for temporary storage of residents' clothes. The rooms used for resident accommodation were measured, and it was noted that the dining room, day care room, and medical record room varied in size, with the dining room being the largest. Despite the presence of call bells and privacy curtains, the environment was not consistent with a typical resident room, and the arrangement impacted the residents' privacy and comfort. Multiple residents interviewed reported being relocated for at least a week, with some indicating they had been in the dining room for up to three weeks. Residents described eating at their bedsides, using shared bathrooms, and receiving care such as showers outside of the temporary rooms. Staff also reported challenges related to staffing and the use of these non-traditional spaces for resident care. Facility policies reviewed indicated procedures for sheltering in place and partial evacuation, but the actual implementation resulted in residents being housed in areas not designed for long-term accommodation, affecting the overall safety, sanitation, and homelike environment for the residents involved.
Penalty
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