Failure to Maintain Safe, Sanitary, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, sanitary, and homelike environment in several areas, as evidenced by observations and interviews. In one resident room and one shower room, water temperatures were found to be excessively high, reaching 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which exceeds the facility's policy limit of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The Maintenance Director confirmed that these temperatures were too high and indicated that adjustments would be made. Additionally, a resident reported a lack of hot water in their restroom and shower room, further highlighting inconsistencies in water temperature regulation. In the North Unit dining room, air temperatures were consistently recorded as excessively high, with the thermostat indicating temperatures between 85 and 89 degrees Fahrenheit during meal times and activities. Residents were observed fanning themselves, and staff confirmed that the dining room became uncomfortably hot during a recent heat wave. No fans were in use to mitigate the heat, and the air conditioning unit was not functioning adequately. The Maintenance Director reported that the AC unit had frozen and required servicing, and an external HVAC company was scheduled to address the issue. Multiple areas of the facility were found to be in disrepair. In one resident room, a ceiling tile was damaged and stained due to a leaking AC unit, with an air vent and duct hanging from the ceiling. The same room had a hole and soft spot in the floor, and the closet floor was patched with plywood. Another resident room had broken flooring near the doorway. The North Unit dining room had a leaking AC unit, resulting in a wet, uneven, and soft floor, with water seeping through cracks. These conditions were confirmed by the Maintenance Director, who attributed the damage to previous incidents and ongoing maintenance issues.