Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Room Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, comfortable, and homelike environment by not ensuring proper room temperatures for four out of seven residents reviewed for heating. Multiple residents reported that the heat in their rooms had not been working for two weeks, with one resident specifically pointing out exposed wires from the heating unit after staff moved beds. Residents expressed discomfort due to cold room temperatures, and one resident stated they had informed several nurses about the issue. Observations confirmed that some rooms had temperatures as low as 65°F, below the facility's stated acceptable range of 72°F to 82°F. The Maintenance Director was unaware of the heating issues and the exposed wires until informed by the surveyor during the inspection. Residents affected included individuals with significant medical conditions, such as paraplegia, hypertension, opioid abuse, anxiety disorder, and colostomy. One resident, who was cognitively intact, reported fluctuating room temperatures and had previously requested adjustments. The facility's policy requires a safe, clean, and comfortable environment, but the failure to promptly address heating malfunctions and exposed wiring resulted in residents experiencing discomfort and unsafe conditions in their rooms.