F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
F

Failure to Maintain Clean and Safe Physical Environment

Pinnacle Care Of Battle CreekBattle Creek, Michigan Survey Completed on 05-12-2025

Summary

The facility failed to effectively clean and maintain the physical plant, impacting 61 residents. During environmental tours of both common areas and resident rooms, surveyors observed multiple deficiencies, including loose grab bars, damaged and soiled chair cushions, missing atmospheric vacuum breakers on shower wands, and soiled janitor closets and ventilation grills. Overhead light assemblies were found to be non-functional or soiled with dust, dirt, and dead insects. Several areas, such as the dining room and storage rooms, had missing or damaged flooring and light covers, and hand sinks were noted to be draining slowly. In resident rooms, numerous issues were identified, such as cracked or broken light covers, non-functional lights, missing pull string extensions, loose or missing commode seats and caulking, and heavily soiled ventilation grills. Human fecal material was observed on drywall surfaces and adjacent to restroom shower stalls in some rooms. Additional problems included ill-mounted doors, missing thermostat covers, and loose enable bars, all of which contributed to an environment that was not adequately maintained or cleaned. Record reviews revealed that the facility had policies and procedures in place for maintenance inspections, preventative maintenance, and routine cleaning and disinfection. However, the review of work orders for the previous 60 days showed no documentation of the identified maintenance concerns, indicating a lack of follow-through on the facility's stated policies. These findings collectively demonstrate a failure to ensure a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents, staff, and the public.

Plan Of Correction

F921 – Safe/Functional/Sanitary/Comfortable Environment Element #1: Environmental deficiencies listed below will be addressed: - The wall-mounted grab bars in therapy near the scale were repaired. - Damaged chairs in therapy were replaced. - Shower wand assemblies were equipped with an atmospheric vacuum breaker. - The floor and mop sink basin in the janitor's closet were cleaned. - Return air exhaust ventilation grills were cleaned in the nurse station restroom, the soiled utility room, the activities storage room, Rm 124 restroom, Rm 130 restroom, Rm 131 restroom. - Overhead light assemblies were repaired and/or cleaned in the lift storage room, the main dining room, Rm 102 bed 2, Rm 117 bed 1, Rm 122 bed 1, Rm 123 bed 1, Rm 128 bed 1, Rm 129 bed 2, Rm 135 bed, Rm 135 restroom, and Rm 143 entrance light. - Beauty shop hand sink basins were repaired to ensure proper drainage. - Flooring was repaired in the storage room. - Commode base caulking was repaired in Rm 101, Rm 102, Rm 111, Rm 122, Rm 124, Rm 128, Rm 130, Rm 131, Rm 135, and Rm 143. - Rm 101: drywall was cleaned above the waste receptacle. - Rm 117: Restroom door was repaired to ensure proper mounting and close to a positive latch. - Rm 122: The wall-mounted thermostat, and restroom faucet assembly were repaired. - Rm 123: The commode seat and cove base were repaired. - Rm 127: Bed 2 metal frame was assessed and repaired. - Rm 128: The commode seat was repaired. - Rm 133: The commode support and seat were repaired. Restroom interior door was repaired. - Rm 135: Bed 2 enabler bar and restroom toilet paper holder were repaired. The restroom was cleaned. Element #2: The Maintenance Director initiated a full facility walkthrough to identify and resolve any additional safety, sanitation, or functional issues. Element #3: The Administrator reviewed the policy on Resident Environmental Quality, and Routine Cleaning and Disinfection, and revised as necessary. Community staff were re-educated on the policies. Element #4: The Maintenance Director and/or designee will conduct weekly environmental rounds for 12 weeks to ensure compliance with the regulation. Results of the audits will be brought to the QAPI Committee monthly for review. Any changes to the auditing process will be determined by the QAPI Committee. The Administrator is responsible to attain and maintain compliance. Compliance Date: 6/20/2025

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0921 citations
Loud Violent TV Programming in Secured Unit Dining Area
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A large-screen TV in the secured unit dining room was playing a loud, violent movie during meals, with screaming, gunfire, crying, and dark scenes visible to residents seated nearby. Two residents with dementia-related cognitive impairment and behavioral issues were directly affected; one became angry and complained the TV was too loud and too dark, while another repeatedly turned off the lights and struck out at an NA when blocked. An LPN, RN, AD, and DON stated the programming was not appropriate for residents with dementia and could increase anxiety or agitation.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor: A resident with Parkinson’s disease, DM, and impaired cognition was observed sleeping in bed while connected to a turned-off G-tube pump that had visible dried milk residue, and the room floor also had visible dried milk residue. A CNA confirmed the pump and floor were dirty, and an LVN stated food or milk drippings should be cleaned right away. RN review showed the care plan called for a safe environment with a floor free from spills and clutter, and the facility did not follow its cleaning and disinfection policy.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment: A hole in the ceiling on Hall 100, a detached baseboard in a shower room on Hall 300, dim lighting in the secure unit dining room, and a leaking kitchen ceiling were observed in the LTC facility. Staff and management interviews showed the issues were known or reported inconsistently, and maintenance logs did not document several of the problems. The kitchen leak was being collected in a pot near the food prep area, and the DM stated the kitchen leaked when it rained.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe and Nonfunctional Bathroom Fixtures
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and nonfunctional bathroom fixtures were observed on two nursing units and in one resident room. A resident reported a broken faucet, and staff observed a replacement knob that wiggled and did not work properly. In one shower room, the hot and cold indicators were reversed, and in another shower room, the drain cover was missing.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment: The 200 unit had marred walls, chipped door trim, a large hole in a resident room wall, missing drywall near the offices, and dirt buildup on baseboards, floors, and around the elevator. The dining room and elevator area also had debris buildup, and the elevator door frame wrap was hanging off on both sides. An HSKP staff member stated the facility was down a housekeeper and floors should be cleaned daily.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe Resident Room Conditions Due to Nonfunctional A/C and Biological Growth
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsafe resident room conditions were identified when multiple rooms had nonfunctional A/C units, temperatures above 81 degrees, and unsealed openings around replacement units. A resident with paraplegia, polyneuropathy, chronic pain, and TBI reported living in a room without working A/C for weeks, while staff said several rooms had been hot for months and administration knew about the issue. Surveyors also observed biological growth inside one A/C unit and on a ceiling tile above a sink in a room occupied by a resident with respiratory concerns.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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