Failure to Maintain Homelike Environment Due to Chipped Paint
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident's room was observed to have scattered chipped paint on the wall, which detracted from a homelike environment. The resident, who had been admitted with diagnoses including muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and chronic kidney disease, was assessed as usually able to understand and communicate needs, though unable to make medical decisions. The resident required substantial assistance with daily activities such as showering, dressing, and toileting hygiene. During an interview, the resident expressed feeling upset about the chipped paint in the room. Staff interviews confirmed the presence of chipped paint, with an LVN stating that the issue should be addressed immediately and acknowledging that the condition of the wall was unacceptable and could negatively impact the resident's sense of a homelike environment. The Maintenance Director reported that the chipped paint was brought to his attention recently but indicated that such damage likely did not occur suddenly. Facility policy requires the maintenance department to keep the building in good repair and to provide a safe, clean, and comfortable environment, which was not met in this instance.