Failure to Maintain Safe, Clean, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for multiple residents, as evidenced by direct observations, resident interviews, and staff statements. Several rooms were found with significant cleanliness and maintenance issues, including dead cockroaches, strong musty odors, dirty dishes, gnats, dried liquid stains, and missing floorboards with dark residue. Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the cleanliness of their rooms and the facility overall, with one resident specifically requesting that her room be cleaned. Additional observations revealed that bathrooms and shower rooms throughout the facility had yellow rings in sinks and toilets, chipped paint, unsealed and dirty A/C units, cracked and missing tiles, and black or pink discoloration suggestive of mold. The presence of trash and debris inside A/C units, as well as paper towels stuffed in seals, further contributed to unsanitary conditions. Community bathrooms and shower rooms were noted to have persistent musty, urine, and stool odors, humidity, damp floors, and visible buildup of dirt and possible mold in cracks and missing tiles. Housekeeping and nursing staff confirmed ongoing concerns with the facility's cleanliness and maintenance, stating that broken tiles and floorboards harbor bacteria and are difficult to clean effectively. Staff also reported insufficient cleaning products and persistent pest issues, including gnats and cockroaches. Resident council meeting minutes documented repeated complaints about housekeeping, maintenance, and persistent odors over several months. Facility policies require ongoing pest control and maintenance of a safe, clean, and homelike environment, but these standards were not met as evidenced by the findings.