Failure to Maintain Pest-Free Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a pest-free environment for four out of five residents reviewed for pest control. Multiple residents reported and were observed to have bed bugs in their beds and rooms, with some residents directly showing live bugs on their sheets during interviews. Staff, including CNAs and LPNs, confirmed ongoing sightings of bed bugs in resident rooms and on residents themselves. Observations included soiled and dirty linens with visible bed bugs, and reports from both residents and staff indicated that the issue had been recurring, with bugs found not only in beds but also on curtains and in common areas such as the dining room. Residents affected had various medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, obesity, schizoaffective disorder, hypertension, bipolar disorder, dementia, and incontinence, with cognitive statuses ranging from intact to severely impaired. The facility's pest control company had previously treated the building and specific rooms, and mattresses with holes and rips had been replaced. Despite these efforts, bed bugs continued to be found in multiple rooms, and the issue was noted in resident council meeting minutes as an ongoing concern. Facility records documented an ongoing pest control program, but the presence of pests persisted at the time of the survey.