Failure to Maintain Clean, Safe, and Homelike Resident Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean, safe, and homelike environment for residents, as evidenced by observations of multiple deficiencies in resident rooms. In one nursing unit, 11 out of 24 resident areas had wall-mounted fans with a visible black coating of dirt and residue on the blades. Additionally, 13 out of 24 resident areas were found to have broken furniture, holes in the wall, scraped paint, exposed unfinished wood on shelving, duct tape covering a bathroom door latch plate, unsanded and unpainted wall repairs, long extension cords running from hallways into rooms, and closet doors or drawers that would not close. These issues were observed in rooms where most residents were non-verbal and on ventilators, with no visitors present during the survey. Interviews with facility staff revealed that housekeeping was responsible for daily cleaning, including furniture and the exterior of fans, while the maintenance department was responsible for cleaning the fans and repairing damaged items. However, there was no documentation in the maintenance log for the previous two months regarding these issues, and staff reported relying on each other to communicate needed repairs. Facility policies required a clean, comfortable, and homelike environment, but these standards were not met in the observed areas.