Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Laundry and Linen Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe and sanitary environment in the laundry and linen storage areas. Observations revealed that the clean clothes folding counter in the laundry area had a large patched hole, measuring three feet long and six inches wide, covered with plain plywood, and several chipped areas. Additionally, the clean linen storage closet had multiple ceiling tiles with broken areas, creating large gaps, and one tile had a large hole inadequately covered with plastic, leaving gaps exposed. Interviews with housekeeping, maintenance, and administrative staff confirmed that there was a repair request system in place and that maintenance items related to residents were prioritized. However, staff acknowledged that a work order should have been submitted to repair or replace the broken counter and that ceiling tiles should be clean and intact. Facility policies required routine inspections and maintenance of fixtures and equipment, including weekly checks of the laundry area, but these procedures were not effectively implemented, resulting in the observed deficiencies.