Failure to Maintain Clean and Sanitary Environment Due to Ongoing Ceiling Leaks
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary environment, as evidenced by multiple observations of removed and damaged ceiling tiles, leaks, and the presence of brownish substances in both the memory care unit and laundry area. On one occasion, two ceiling tiles were found removed in the memory care common area living room, with a red bucket placed underneath to catch potential drips. In the laundry area, two ceiling tiles were observed to have a brown substance covering a significant portion, and three other tiles were bulging. A pipe was seen draining brownish liquid into a bucket. These conditions persisted over consecutive days, with the ceiling tiles in the memory care area remaining removed and the bucket repositioned but still present. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that the ceiling leaks were an ongoing issue, attributed to the boiler system, which caused the brownish substances and bulging of the ceiling tiles. The Housekeeping and Laundry Supervisor acknowledged that clean resident laundry could be affected if leakage came into contact with it. The facility's own policy required a safe, clean, and homelike environment, but these conditions were not met, affecting 33 residents in the memory care unit and potentially all 132 residents in the facility.