Failure to Maintain Clean and Homelike Environment Due to Mold and Poor Housekeeping
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for its residents, as required by its own policies and federal regulations. Observations revealed a dirty adult brief on a shower chair, a pile of dirty linens on the floor, a toilet full of feces, and a mold-like substance on the ceiling and wall tiles in the shower room. Housekeeping staff confirmed the presence of mold throughout the facility and stated that they had not reported it, citing short staffing and limited time to complete cleaning tasks. The housekeeping supervisor acknowledged awareness of the mold issue but indicated that no action had been taken to address it, also attributing the problem to staffing shortages and time constraints. Interviews with residents confirmed that mold was present in the shower rooms, with one resident stating it was all over the walls, ceiling, and floors, but residents had not reported it because they believed staff were already aware or would not address it. The Maintenance Director admitted to noticing the mold recently and had attempted to address it superficially but had not investigated the cause due to time constraints and lack of reports from staff. The DON was unaware of the mold issue and acknowledged the potential health risks, while the Administrator stated that maintenance was responsible for identifying and addressing such issues, expecting staff to follow policy and guidelines. The failure to maintain cleanliness and address environmental hazards had the potential to affect all 81 residents in the facility.