Failure to Maintain Safe and Homelike Resident Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, comfortable, and homelike environment for one resident, as evidenced by the lack of access to hot water for grooming and personal hygiene, and a malfunctioning cold water faucet that splashed water onto the resident and the floor. The resident reported that the hot water in the room did not function properly, taking over ten minutes to become warm and then only dribbling out, while the cold water came out at an odd angle and caused splashing. Additionally, the television in the room was loose, tilted to the side, and appeared unstable, and the window blinds were broken, bent, and not properly attached, creating the appearance that they might fall at any time. Observations confirmed the resident's room was clean and free of unusual odors, but the TV was loosely affixed and tilted, and the blinds were in disrepair with broken slats and a bent top. The bathroom faucet did not provide hot water, and the cold water splashed outside the sink. The facility's maintenance supervisor acknowledged these issues, attributing the hot water problem to a possible pipe clog and noting the need for repairs to the faucet, TV bracket, and blinds. Facility policies require the maintenance department to keep the building and equipment safe and operable at all times and to provide residents with a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment.