Failure to Maintain Safe, Clean, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple deficiencies in the facility's maintenance of a safe, clean, and comfortable environment. In one resident room, the carpet was excessively stained with dark and pink spills, and the bathroom shower was used for storage of trash bags filled with empty cans, while personal hygiene items were stored on the floor. The dining room had peeling paint, exposed drywall, and hanging plaster from water leaks, with one damaged area directly above a dining table. Additional findings included a large vent with dust buildup, stained ceiling tiles, windows with residue and tape marks, corroded sink cabinetry, and an actively leaking water line saturating the floor. The nurses' station and main facility areas had heavily stained carpets, and a skylight area had ceiling tiles with brown and black discoloration and powder-like particles falling onto the floor. The entertainment area vent was covered in a fuzzy, black substance, and the main carpeted areas were soiled with various stains. A resident who used a wheelchair was found to have a visibly soiled wheelchair with debris buildup and multiple cigarette burns on the cushion. The wheelchair's left wheel lock was nonfunctional, and the resident reported it had not worked properly for a long time. The DON confirmed that staff were expected to clean wheelchairs at least weekly and as needed, and that carpets had been shampooed multiple times without success in removing stains. Facility policy required housekeeping and maintenance services to maintain a sanitary, orderly, and comfortable environment, but these standards were not met as evidenced by the observations.