Failure to Maintain a Safe, Clean, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, sanitary, and comfortable homelike environment throughout three out of four hallways, as evidenced by strong odors of urine, cigarettes, and body odor in multiple areas, including hallways, resident rooms, and common spaces. Observations revealed that the dining room and common areas were not properly cleaned, with food, cigarette butts, hair ties, and dust present on the floors and under heating units. Tables in the dining area were stained with paint and food, and lacked tablecloths. Window blinds and heating units were covered in dust and dirt, with some blinds broken and left unrepaired for at least a week, resulting in a lack of privacy for residents. Resident rooms were found with broken closet doors, stained privacy curtains, and strong odors of urine and body odor. Some rooms had brown-stained sheets and blankets, and in one instance, a urinal filled with urine was left uncovered and soiled on a bedside table. Bathrooms were not consistently cleaned, with dried sticky substances and stains observed on floors and around toilets. Window curtains in some rooms were broken and hanging off the rods, further contributing to the unkempt environment. Residents reported that their rooms and bathrooms were not cleaned daily, and one resident stated that she had to clean her own bathroom due to inadequate housekeeping. Interviews with staff indicated that daily cleaning routines were in place, but there was inconsistency in the frequency and thoroughness of cleaning, particularly regarding privacy curtains and deep cleaning schedules. Housekeeping staff were unsure how often privacy curtains were cleaned, and maintenance staff acknowledged ongoing issues with room repairs and decluttering. Bed linens were reportedly changed twice a week on shower days, but observations contradicted this, as stained linens were found in several rooms. Staff also indicated that refusals by residents to have their rooms or linens cleaned were documented, but there was no evidence that these refusals accounted for the widespread lack of cleanliness and sanitation observed.