Failure to Maintain Working Air Conditioning Unit for Resident Comfort
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident was not provided with a comfortable environment due to a malfunctioning air conditioning (AC) unit in their room. The resident, who had intact cognition and diagnoses including fascial fibromatosis and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, reported that the AC unit was not working properly and that the room became hot on warm days. The resident stated they had informed staff, and the Director of Maintenance (DOM) had visited the room and agreed that the unit was blowing warm air. Observations confirmed that the AC unit did not blow cool air, even when set to the lowest and highest settings. Further interviews revealed that the DOM acknowledged the unit needed to be replaced but did not recall previous discussions with the resident and had not returned to address the issue. The Director of Nursing (DON) stated that the expectation was for broken equipment to be fixed or replaced immediately, but was unaware of any complaints regarding non-working AC units in the resident's hall. The Executive Director (ED) indicated that maintaining comfortable temperatures was a high priority and that residents were typically offered a fan or room change if their AC was not working. The facility's policy stated a commitment to providing resident-centered care that meets psychosocial, physical, and emotional needs.