Failure to Repair Leaking Sink and Ensure Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe and homelike environment for one resident by not repairing a leaking bathroom sink for approximately two months. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had diagnoses including epilepsy and a history of heart attack, reported the issue to staff multiple times. The sink was observed to be actively leaking into a plastic basin, which the resident had to empty personally, and the water in the basin was discolored. The resident expressed that the situation was unpleasant and attracted bugs. Staff interviews revealed that a CNA was aware of the leaking sink for over a month but did not document the issue in the maintenance log as required. The maintenance log contained no record of the problem, and the Unit Manager was unaware of any maintenance requests or emails regarding the sink. The Maintenance Director confirmed he was not notified of the issue until the surveyor brought it to the attention of the Unit Manager. The DON acknowledged that maintenance should have been notified immediately and that waiting over a month was unacceptable.