Failure to Maintain Clean and Safe Community Shower Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean, safe, and homelike environment in four community shower rooms, as evidenced by multiple observations and staff and resident interviews. Surveyors observed significant environmental deficiencies, including thick dust on ceiling vents, missing floor tiles around toilets, exposed internal heating components, non-functioning ventilation systems, and evidence of black mold on shower room ceilings. Staff reported that the shower rooms often became messy, with overflowing toilets, garbage cans full of soiled briefs causing odors, and frequent flooding due to outdated plumbing. Maintenance staff acknowledged awareness of these issues, including missing tiles, persistent plumbing problems, and non-functional vents, but noted that repairs had not been completed due to lack of supplies or oversight. Two cognitively intact residents reported direct negative experiences with the shower rooms. One resident stated that the mold problem in the shower room persisted despite being painted over and that he used this room regularly. Another resident described the east end shower room as dirty, with pooled water up to her ankles and poor ventilation making it difficult to breathe. Staff confirmed that the ventilation systems in several shower rooms were not operational, leading them to open windows for air circulation. These conditions were present in areas actively used by residents for bathing and daily hygiene.