Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest management program as evidenced by multiple observations of pests and pest evidence in a resident's room. On several occasions, surveyors observed a roach on a resident, mouse droppings along the walls and in the resident's dresser, and a mouse trap at the head of the bed. Additional observations included live and dead roaches behind the refrigerator and further mouse droppings in the room. The facility's pest control policy stated that an ongoing program would be maintained to keep the building free of insects and rodents. However, the pest sighting log documented sightings of mice and roaches in the same room and other areas, with no evidence that these sightings were addressed after being recorded. The last preventative pest treatment was documented nearly two months prior to the most recent sightings. The resident involved had diagnoses including dysphagia and major depressive disorder, was dependent for all activities of daily living, and had intact cognition. The resident reported frequent issues with roaches crawling on them and stated that repeated complaints to staff were not addressed. Facility staff, including housekeeping and the administrator, confirmed the presence of roaches, mouse droppings, and traps in the resident's room. The maintenance supervisor acknowledged that roaches were still present in the facility, though their numbers had decreased.