Failure to Maintain Clean and Sanitary Resident Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide housekeeping services to maintain a clean, sanitary, and orderly environment for one resident diagnosed with Huntington's disease, who required assistance with activities of daily living and had a history of falls. Video footage and direct observation revealed the resident's room was cluttered with numerous disposable plates, cups, utensils, and food debris on the floor, a full trash can, and dark stains on the bed linens. The over-bed table was covered with dried food and spilled drinks, attracting gnats, and the bathroom was unsanitary with a dirty toilet, empty paper towel dispenser, and no trash can. Dirty and clean clothing were scattered on the floor, and the bed frame was broken. Interviews indicated that housekeeping staff had not entered the resident's room for over a week due to a prior incident involving aggression, as directed by a former administrator. The current administrator was unaware of this directive and the lack of cleaning, as well as a request for a larger trash can to accommodate the resident's needs. The resident's family member reported that the resident often refused cleaning due to staff not communicating or discarding items without asking, and that staff did not understand the resident's condition. The facility did not provide a policy for housekeeping services or maintaining a clean and comfortable environment.