Failure to Maintain Clean, Safe, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for its residents, as required by policy. Observations conducted with the Director of Housekeeping and Laundry revealed multiple instances of uncleanliness and disrepair in resident rooms and bathrooms, including heavily soiled and sticky floors, dirt and debris, black and yellow stains, damaged walls with exposed drywall, loose or missing cove bases and ceramic tiles, and improperly fitted toilet tank covers. Additionally, assist bars around toilets were not secured, and the ice machine in a hallway was found to be heavily soiled, rusted, and contaminated with a brown ring inside the storage area. These conditions were verified by the Director of Housekeeping and Laundry during the inspection. The deficiency affected 11 residents, including one resident with significant medical conditions such as hypoxemia, ALS, GERD, hypertension, OSA, and diabetes mellitus, who was cognitively intact and dependent on staff for activities of daily living. This resident expressed embarrassment about the state of her room, particularly when visited by friends and family, and took personal steps to improve the environment by ordering a shelf and rug. The facility's own policy confirmed the expectation of a clean, sanitary, and homelike environment, which was not met as evidenced by the survey findings.