Persistent Urine Odor Due to Inadequate Environmental Management
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a homelike, odor-free environment as required by its policy, specifically in the 2100 Hall where a persistent urine odor was observed over several days. Multiple observations documented a strong urine smell concentrated around one resident's room, with the odor persisting despite cleaning efforts. The resident reported accidentally spilling a full urinal, which was not promptly cleaned, and noted that staff had not emptied the urinal after its last use. Staff interviews confirmed that urine spills and odors were a frequent issue in this area, with both the resident and his roommate regularly using urinals that sometimes spilled and leaving soiled briefs on the floor. Housekeeping and nursing staff described a process where nursing would clean the initial spill and notify housekeeping for further cleaning, including deep cleaning twice weekly. Despite these efforts, the odor remained, and the Regional Housekeeping Manager determined that the urine odor had likely penetrated the flooring materials, making it difficult to eliminate with standard cleaning. The Administrator acknowledged awareness of the persistent odor and attributed it to repeated urine spills soaking into the floor, indicating that the flooring may need replacement to fully resolve the issue.