Failure to Maintain Pest-Free Environment in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure it was free from pests, specifically cockroaches, as required by its pest control policy. During interviews, both a Registered Nurse and a Certified Nurse Aide reported seeing live roaches in a resident's bathroom. Subsequent observation with the Administrator confirmed the presence of five to six live cockroaches behind the resident's refrigerator. The affected resident, who had a history of cerebral infarction, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other significant medical conditions, was assessed as cognitively intact and confirmed the ongoing issue with cockroaches in his room. He also reported that after dropping his food tray on the floor, it took over an hour for the area to be fully cleaned. Review of the facility's pest control policy indicated that the facility was supposed to maintain an effective pest control program, including regular services from an outside provider and a system for reporting issues between scheduled visits. Despite these policies, the presence of live cockroaches and the resident's report of a recurring problem demonstrated a failure to maintain a pest-free environment. This deficiency was identified during a complaint investigation and was a recite from previous complaint surveys.