Failure to Maintain Clean and Homelike Resident Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment for residents, as required by regulation. Multiple observations on two units revealed resident rooms with accumulated dust and dirt on radiators and vent grills, peeling and broken nonslip stickers on floors, stained and mismatched floor tiles, chipped bathroom doors, stained window ledges and shades, broken furniture handles, and walls with scratches, scruff marks, and peeling wallpaper. Trash cans in some rooms were nearly full, and paper towels and old tissues were found on the floor. These conditions were directly observed by surveyors over several days. Interviews with residents and staff indicated that housekeeping services were inconsistent, with one resident reporting that housekeeping staff only cleaned their room once or twice a week. A housekeeper confirmed they worked on the unit only a few times per week and was unsure if others cleaned the rooms in their absence. Nursing and environmental services staff were either unaware of the cleanliness issues or had not received complaints from residents. The Director of Environmental Services stated that daily cleaning tasks were assigned, but was not aware of the specific problems identified by surveyors. The Director of Plant Operations described a process for maintenance requests and regular rounds but did not identify the observed deficiencies during their inspections. A review of the facility's maintenance logbook for the relevant period showed no requests for repairs or cleaning related to the observed deficiencies. The facility's own policy required that resident rooms and common areas be maintained in a clean, safe, and fully functional condition, but the observed conditions and lack of documentation indicated that these standards were not met. The deficiency was substantiated by both direct observation and staff interviews, as well as the absence of maintenance records addressing the issues.