Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Indoor Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a comfortable temperature range for residents, as required by policy, resulting in room and common area temperatures consistently exceeding the upper limit of 81 degrees. Temperature logs and direct observations showed that several resident rooms and common areas reached temperatures between 81 and 85 degrees, with some air conditioning units not functioning and windows left open. Multiple residents reported feeling hot, and staff confirmed that therapy was moved to resident rooms due to excessive heat in the therapy room. The issue was compounded by a malfunctioning cooling tower, which had previously required significant repairs and temporary equipment, and by a wiring error that caused the cooling system to fail again after repairs were completed. Work orders and interviews indicated ongoing problems with the air conditioning system, including specific reports of non-functioning units in resident rooms and common areas. The facility attempted to mitigate the heat by providing fans and portable air conditioning units, encouraging fluid intake, and relocating residents to cooler areas when possible. Despite these efforts, the facility did not maintain the required temperature range, and residents continued to experience discomfort due to elevated indoor temperatures during a period of high outdoor heat.