Resident Rooms Below Required Square Footage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that seven of its resident rooms (Rooms 114, 115, 116, 117, 119, 121, and 123) met the required minimum square footage of 80 square feet per resident in multiple occupancy rooms. During a recertification survey, it was observed that these rooms each measured 300 square feet and housed four residents per room, except for one room with two residents, resulting in less than the required space per individual. Despite the rooms being observed to have adequate space for movement and care, the actual measurements did not comply with regulatory requirements. Interviews and record reviews revealed that the facility administrator acknowledged the deficiency and stated that a room waiver had been requested for the affected rooms. The waiver request letter indicated that the rooms provided reasonable privacy, sufficient storage, and adequate space for nursing care and resident equipment, and asserted that resident health and safety would not be jeopardized. However, the physical dimensions of the rooms remained below the mandated standard for square footage per resident at the time of the survey.