Failure to Maintain Hygienic Laundry Practices Due to Lack of Hot Water and Sanitizing Chemicals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly handle, store, process, and transport linens in accordance with accepted national standards, resulting in unsanitary laundry conditions. The washing machine used for resident linens did not have hot water due to a broken hot water heater, and the machine itself displayed an error code and required servicing. The facility was unable to obtain necessary repairs or order the required sanitizing chemicals because of unpaid bills to vendors. As a result, staff resorted to purchasing bleach and laundry detergent themselves, which were not the required chemicals for proper sanitization. Multiple staff, including the Maintenance Director, Housekeeper, Laundry Supervisor, and DON, confirmed the lack of hot water, absence of proper chemicals, and inability to service the equipment. The CEO was unaware of the situation until interviewed. Observations revealed that linens stored in the facility were stained, had dark spots, and emitted a musty or urine odor, indicating inadequate cleaning. The laundry supervisor reported that the issue had persisted for over a month, and the problem had been reported to maintenance and corporate, but no resolution had occurred. The facility's census at the time was 23 residents. There were no reports of residents having skin issues or infections related to the laundry at the time of the survey.