Failure to Maintain Clean, Safe, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for residents, as evidenced by multiple observations of unclean and poorly maintained resident rooms and common areas. Surveyors found significant dirt buildup, stains, debris, and damaged walls, floors, and baseboards in at least nine resident rooms across six of eight resident halls. Specific issues included dry black and brown material on floors, visible dirt in bathrooms, trash and wrappers under beds, missing toilet seals, splattered matter on walls and tiles, broken or missing baseboards, holes in walls, and soiled trash cans without liners. In several cases, privacy curtains were found on the floor, and exposed electrical wires were observed in one room. Common areas and hallways also had heavy dirt buildup, particularly on metal threshold plates and ceilings with brown stains and flaking paint. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and communication regarding the cleanliness and maintenance issues. The Environmental Services (EVS) Director and Acting Maintenance Director were often unaware of the specific problems in the rooms, and both cited ongoing staffing shortages as a contributing factor. Housekeepers were expected to clean rooms daily, including wiping down walls and baseboards when visibly dirty, but this was not consistently done. Maintenance staff relied on housekeeping and nursing assistants to report issues through an electronic tracking system, but many deficiencies were not entered, resulting in delayed or missed repairs. The EVS Director acknowledged that the rooms were not cleaned to expectations and that routine rounds were conducted, but significant issues persisted. One resident reported that a bathroom leak had been ongoing for two months, requiring her to use alternative facilities, which was inconvenient. The maintenance assistant confirmed awareness of the leak but had not entered a formal work order, relying instead on verbal communication. The facility administrator expected staff to report maintenance issues but was not aware of many of the specific deficiencies observed. The report documents a pattern of unaddressed environmental concerns, lack of systematic reporting, and insufficient staffing, leading to the failure to provide residents with a safe and clean living environment.