Failure to Maintain Comfortable Room Temperature
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a comfortable room temperature for one of four sampled residents, resulting in a room temperature of 84°F, which exceeded the facility's policy range of 71°F to 81°F. This was confirmed through observation, interview, and record review. The resident, who was cognitively intact and required moderate assistance with activities of daily living, reported feeling hot and uncomfortable in his room. He used an electric fan, but stated it only helped a little to cool down the room. On the day of the survey, the maintenance supervisor measured the temperatures in several rooms, all of which were found to be 84°F. The facility's policy and procedures, reviewed earlier in the year, specified that residents should be provided with a comfortable and safe temperature within the stated range. The resident's medical history included end stage renal disease and depression, and he had been admitted and re-admitted to the facility prior to the incident.