Failure to Maintain Homelike Dining Environment and Address Water Damage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a homelike and comfortable environment for residents, as evidenced by observations in the third-floor dining room and a maintenance issue in a resident hallway. During multiple breakfast observations, residents were seated at a round folding table without a tablecloth, and all meals were served on trays rather than being placed directly on the tables. None of the tables had tablecloths during breakfast, which was inconsistent with lunch service where tablecloths were used and meals were served directly on the tables. Staff interviews confirmed that tablecloths should be used for all meals and that plates, bowls, and cups should be removed from trays, but staff reported that this was not their practice during breakfast. Additionally, there was no facility policy regarding the dining experience for residents. A separate deficiency was observed in the first-floor resident hallway, where a built-in wall unit air conditioner was surrounded by a water-damaged wall. The area between the windowsill and the air conditioner had black speckles and was wet to the touch, with bubbling paint and wet spackle nearby. Water was observed dripping from an upstairs air conditioner directly onto the unit below, causing the outside siding and the interior wall to be soaked. The Director of Maintenance was unaware of the extent of the water damage and the presence of black speckles until it was pointed out by the surveyor.