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

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0921 citations
Unsanitary bathroom conditions with unresolved maintenance issues
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

Unsanitary bathroom conditions were observed in 7 rooms, with black and dark filmy growth on ceilings, walls, doors, and door frames, along with warm, musty, foul-smelling conditions. Follow-up checks showed the growth and odors remained, and prior work orders documented mold, ventilation, and A/C concerns without completion dates recorded.

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.
Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room
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

Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room: A resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's dementia, CKD, HTN, and depression was observed in a room where wallpaper next to the bed was loose and peeling away from the wall. A NA said the damage had been present for months and the resident had been pulling at it, while an LPN said they were not aware of the issue. The maintenance director said the wallpaper needed repair, but no maintenance requests were found for the room.

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.
Unclean hallways and inconsistent room cleaning
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 facility failed to keep 4 hallways clean and comfortable, with stained carpets, food debris, urine odor, and cluttered resident rooms observed. Residents reported rooms were not cleaned routinely, one said a spill was left sticky after being wiped but not mopped, and a grievance showed food spills remained for days before cleaning. Staff said housekeeping could not always complete daily room cleaning and that staffing was limited.

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.
Failure to Maintain Sewer Line and Sanitary Conditions
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

Failure to maintain the sewer line and sanitary environment resulted in raw sewage backing up through toilets and shower drains into resident rooms and hallways, with wastewater also leaking into an office area. Residents reported repeated clogs, the building water supply was shut off for hours, and staff confirmed corroded piping, flushed wipes, and that no medical or clinical assessments were completed after residents were exposed to sewage and fumes.

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.
Pest activity and unsanitary conditions observed in resident areas
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

Pest activity and unsanitary conditions were observed in resident areas and near the garbage area. A resident reported a spider on her curtain and a fly in her room, another resident reported flies during meals, and a family member reported roaches, moldy walls, and chipped paint in a resident room. Staff also observed dead insects near the kitchen exit, leaking waste at the garbage compactor, uncovered dumpsters, and unused equipment stored outdoors on muddy ground.

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.
Failure to Maintain Safe Common-Area Temperatures
F
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

Failure to maintain comfortable temperatures in common areas: surveyors found the dining rooms, hallway, lobby, and kitchen at or above 81 F, with the kitchen reaching 86 F while outdoor heat index conditions were very high. Staff reported the chiller had failed the prior year, the roof unit serving the kitchen and dining room had gone out the prior week, and portable AC units were being used in hallways and dining areas; a resident said bingo was too hot and humid and hard to breathe.

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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