Failure to Maintain Clean and Sanitary Dining Room Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the dining room floor in a clean and sanitary condition for all residents who dined in the Center and East Halls Dining Room. Over the course of two consecutive days, surveyors observed multiple dried liquid spots, including what appeared to be dried milk and other clear or semi-clear substances, as well as debris such as food particles, dirt, and maple tree seeds scattered throughout the dining room floor. These observations were made despite the presence of housekeeping staff, and the same spills and debris remained unaddressed from one day to the next. The administrator acknowledged that the cleanliness observed did not meet the facility's standards. Interviews with staff revealed concerns about the adequacy and consistency of cleaning practices. A housekeeper described the daily cleaning routine, which included cleaning tables, sweeping, mopping, and taking out trash, and stated that the current staffing level was sufficient. However, an LPN reported that housekeepers were not routinely sweeping and mopping as expected, leading nursing staff to sometimes clean areas themselves. Facility policy requires daily cleaning and immediate attention to spills or soiling, but these procedures were not followed, resulting in a failure to provide a clean, safe, and homelike environment for residents.