Failure to Maintain Safe, Clean, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment in multiple resident rooms and common areas. Observations revealed missing and cracked plaster on two walls in Hall C, chipped floor tile near a bed in a room on Hall A, black marks and yellowish stains on a privacy curtain, and a feeding pump pole with a dried, brownish substance. The dried substance was also present on the floor around the feeding pump. These environmental issues were observed on multiple occasions and verified by housekeeping staff, the Housekeeping Supervisor, the Director of Nursing, and the Maintenance Director. The facility's policy requires weekly environmental rounds and prompt repairs, with a process for staff to report issues using a requisition form or communication slips. Interviews with staff indicated a lack of awareness and follow-through regarding the identified deficiencies. The Maintenance Director confirmed the need for wall repairs and was unaware of the chipped floor tile, noting that no communication slip had been submitted for it. Housekeeping staff acknowledged the presence of the dried substance and indicated that cleaning responsibilities were divided between nursing and housekeeping, with some confusion about who should address specific issues. The Housekeeping Supervisor stated that maintenance is responsible for curtain changes. The environmental concerns persisted over several days, indicating a failure to address and resolve the deficiencies in a timely manner.