Failure to Maintain Clean and Sanitary Wheelchairs for Multiple Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and homelike environment for five residents by not ensuring their wheelchairs and motorized mobility devices were regularly cleaned, sanitized, and free from damage. During a Resident Council meeting, multiple residents reported that their wheelchairs were not cleaned on a regular basis and could not recall the last time cleaning occurred. Observations revealed that the wheelchairs had packed substances in crevices, worn cushions, dried-on substances, and visible dust and debris. Documentation indicated that cleaning was supposed to occur weekly, but the observed condition of the wheelchairs did not align with these records. Further interviews and observations with the Environmental Services Director confirmed that staff typically inspect and clean wheelchairs monthly, which contradicted the documented weekly cleaning schedule. Specific examples included wheelchairs with ripped seat cushions, thick buildup of substances, and crusted-on debris. Residents consistently reported not recalling when their wheelchairs were last cleaned, and the Environmental Services Director acknowledged that regular cleaning was not being addressed as required.