Failure to Prevent Accident Hazards and Inadequate Supervision
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident environment free from accident hazards and did not provide adequate supervision to prevent accidents. Observations revealed that a janitor's closet on the B hall was repeatedly found unlocked and unattended, containing various cleaning chemicals such as Clorox Clean-up, Sani-Clean 2 spray, and bleach germicidal wipes. The Maintenance Assistant confirmed that the closet should always be locked but stated the lock was broken and was unsure how long it had been in that condition. Additionally, a medication cart on the B Hall was observed unlocked and unattended, and an LPN confirmed that the cart should not be left in this state. A resident who was permitted to smoke a vape (electronic cigarette) only at designated times and in a designated outdoor area with staff supervision was observed using the vape inside the building before reaching the designated area. The resident's care plan and facility policy required the vape to be used only under supervision and in the specified location, with the device stored in the medication cart and charged by nursing staff. The staff member accompanying the resident acknowledged that the resident was not supposed to use the vape before exiting the building, and the Administrator confirmed this expectation.