Failure to Provide Hot Water for Resident Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide hot water for 21 residents on the south hallway, as observed and confirmed through resident interviews, staff interviews, and record reviews. Multiple residents reported not having hot water in their bathrooms for an extended period, with some stating they had not received a shower in a week and were unable to wash their hands or face with hot water. Residents also indicated that they were not provided or offered warm wet washcloths as an alternative for personal hygiene. Direct observations by surveyors confirmed that the hot water in affected residents' bathrooms and the south hall shower room remained cold even after running for several minutes. Staff interviews revealed that residents from the affected hallway were taken to another shower room for bathing, and staff attempted to use water basins or obtain hot water from other areas for handwashing. However, some staff reported using cold water for handwashing due to the lack of hot water access. Maintenance records and staff interviews indicated that the hot water heater on the south hallway had been malfunctioning since at least 3/24/2025, with repeated issues relighting the pilot light and delays in obtaining a suitable replacement unit. Resident council meeting minutes and maintenance work orders corroborated the ongoing lack of hot water. The facility's own documentation and residents' care plans confirmed the need for assistance with bathing and personal hygiene, which was not adequately met due to the hot water outage.