Failure to Maintain Functional and Sanitary Resident Environment Due to Unaddressed Sink Leak
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with multiple complex medical conditions, including diabetes, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, acute kidney disease, osteomyelitis, and bilateral leg amputations, reported that their bathroom sink had been leaking for two weeks. The resident, who was cognitively intact and required partial/moderate assistance for mobility, stated that staff had placed a gray bucket under the sink to catch the leaking water but had not arranged for repairs despite being notified. Upon observation, the surveyor found the bucket half full of dirty water and witnessed water dripping into it when the faucet was used. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the Maintenance Director was only made aware of the issue on the day of the survey and began repairs immediately. The Administrator and Director of Nursing both stated they were not previously informed of the leak, despite the facility having a policy and system in place for submitting maintenance work orders, including QR codes for easy reporting. The failure to report and address the leaking sink resulted in the resident's environment not being maintained in a functional and sanitary condition.