Environmental Cleanliness and Maintenance Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean and safe environment in multiple resident rooms and common areas, as evidenced by direct observations, resident interviews, and record reviews. In four separate rooms, there were persistent issues such as dried reddish-brown stains on privacy curtains, dirty baseboards, unpainted white patches on walls, brownish-gray stains on ceilings and walls near air vents, holes in walls with chipped paint, cracked and peeling linoleum flooring, chipped sinks, corroded faucets, and peeling window tint. These environmental deficiencies were observed by surveyors and confirmed by residents, who reported that some of these issues, including dried blood on privacy curtains and damaged walls, had been present since their admission to the rooms and had not been addressed despite requests to staff. Interviews with staff revealed that the process for identifying and addressing environmental issues was inconsistent and relied heavily on staff noticing and reporting problems in a Maintenance Log. The Maintenance Department did not routinely document which rooms were checked or what specific items were inspected during their rounds. Maintenance staff acknowledged that some repairs, such as painting over patched walls and addressing water stains on ceilings, were overlooked or delayed, and that the department was understaffed. Housekeeping staff also failed to change soiled privacy curtains during deep cleaning due to lack of available personnel, despite recognizing the importance of immediate removal for infection control. Review of facility records, including the Maintenance Department's Checklist and Deep Clean Check off List, showed incomplete documentation of cleaning and maintenance activities. The facility's policy required a safe, clean, and comfortable environment, but the observed conditions did not meet these standards. The deficiencies resulted in an unclean and potentially unsanitary environment for residents, staff, and visitors, as directly observed and reported by those affected.