Deficient Food Storage and Unsafe Lighting in Dining Area
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety in the nourishment refrigerator and freezer located in the south hall. Specifically, expired frozen meals, undated and unlabeled food items, and opened packages without proper identification were found. Additionally, the refrigerator contained unlabeled and undated containers, as well as expired pudding and gelatin. Staff interviews confirmed that night shift nursing staff were responsible for checking these food items, and facility policy required all foods to be covered, labeled, and dated, with resident names and use-by dates clearly indicated. Further, during a dining observation, two overhead fluorescent light fixtures in the dining room were found to be missing covers, leaving the bulbs exposed directly above dining tables. Maintenance staff verified the absence of plastic coverings and fixture covers. Facility policy stated that maintenance services, including preventative maintenance, were under the supervision of the Administrator and Maintenance Department, with specific duties outlined for the Maintenance Director.