Failure to Maintain Clean and Homelike Environment Due to Dust Buildup
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed a buildup of dust on the back of ceiling-mounted televisions and their wires in multiple resident rooms. In one room, all four televisions had visible dust accumulation, and a resident reported not having seen staff clean the backs of the televisions. Additional observations in other rooms revealed similar dust buildup, including in rooms occupied by residents with tracheostomies. Photographic evidence was taken to document the condition. Interviews with facility leadership, including the Administrator, Interim Director of Nursing (IDON), and Environmental Services Supervisor (EVS), confirmed that housekeeping staff are expected to perform high dusting as part of their daily service, with high dusting specifically scheduled once a month. However, the EVS acknowledged that high dusting had not been performed recently due to the lack of appropriate equipment, specifically a long-handled duster needed to reach the backs of the televisions. Both the Administrator and IDON agreed that the dust buildup was present and should have been addressed.