Failure to Provide Hot Water for Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide hot water to six residents in one of its halls, resulting in a lack of a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment. Resident Council Meeting Minutes over a three-month period documented ongoing complaints about the absence of hot water, with residents having to go to another hall to shower and reporting that water remained cold even after running it for extended periods. Multiple residents confirmed during interviews that only cold water was available in their rooms, making it difficult to perform basic hygiene tasks such as washing their faces or taking showers. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) corroborated these reports, stating that they had to bring buckets of hot water from other areas to assist residents with their morning care routines. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that water temperatures were not checked in the affected rooms, particularly during the early morning hours when the issue was most pronounced. The Administrator was unaware of the ongoing problem, despite the water heaters having been replaced a few months prior. The deficiency persisted for at least six months, as evidenced by repeated documentation in Resident Council Meeting Minutes and consistent staff and resident reports.