Single Resident Room Below Minimum Size Requirement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a single resident room met the required minimum size of 100 square feet, as specified in the State Operations Manual, Appendix PP- Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities. During the survey, it was observed that one resident was occupying a room measuring only 96.5 square feet. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the room was smaller than the regulatory requirement and stated that no remodeling had been done to address the deficiency. The administrator also indicated that the facility has limited private rooms and reviews the use of this undersized room annually, placing only smaller, ambulatory residents in it after informing them and their Power of Attorney about the room size. The resident occupying the room was admitted with multiple diagnoses, including atrial fibrillation, anxiety, depression, malnutrition, an unspecified mental disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The resident was assessed as severely cognitively impaired but able to make herself understood and ambulate independently. During an interview, the resident expressed satisfaction with the room, describing it as comfortable and appreciating features such as a large window. The surveyor attempted to contact the resident's Power of Attorney but did not receive a response.