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 Hair Salon and Open Kitchen Drain
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

An open floor drain near the dish machine was observed without a grate, and the FSM confirmed it had no grate and was unsure how long it had been open. In the Hair Salon, the sink drain filter had a glob of hair, and 3 brushes plus a box of hair curlers had hair on them; the AD and HS both confirmed the unsanitary conditions, and the HS stated she might have forgotten to clean the salon after the beautician visit.

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 resident room and unclean memory care dining room
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 resident room was observed in disrepair with unpainted wall areas, black marks, discoloration, ceiling staining, and scuffed, missing paint on the door frame, and the same conditions remained on follow-up. The memory care dining room floor also had food crumbs and debris under multiple tables; an LPN said it appeared not to have been cleaned after the prior night's meal, and the administrator confirmed the food was still present.

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.
Leaking and Loose Faucets in Facility Sinks
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

Leaking and Loose Faucets in Facility Sinks: During a facility tour, a beauty shop style sink was observed leaking where the faucet connected to the sink, and maintenance staff stated they were not aware it needed repair. A sink in the soiled linens room on D/F Hall was also observed with a loose swivel faucet that leaked when turned on, and maintenance staff confirmed the observation.

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.
Sharps Containers Left Full and Unusable
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

Sharps containers on a locked dementia unit were observed full to the point that they could not be opened, including one in a shower room with three uncapped used disposable razors sitting on top of it and another on a medication cart. The DON and an LPN confirmed the containers were unusable, and the LPN noted two residents on the unit required routine blood glucose monitoring with lancets that would need disposal in a sharps container.

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.
Resident Room Walls Found Moist, Stained, and Damaged
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

Resident room walls were observed with moisture, black/gray staining resembling mildew or mold-like substance, bubbling paint, cracks, gouges, and dirty vents in multiple rooms, including B-2, B-4, B-6, B-8, B-10, and B-12. The Tel's record review showed no reports about the wall conditions for the past 6 months, and the ADM stated the moisture had been present for a while and had not previously been brought to the ADM and Maintenance Director's attention.

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.
Broken Bedside Table Within Resident Reach
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

A resident with moderate cognitive impairment and anticoagulant use had a bedside table within reach that was observed to be broken, with an unfinished edge, exposed particle board, splinters, and wood chips on the tabletop. A CNA confirmed the table was in poor repair and accessible to the resident.

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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