Failure to Maintain Kitchen Equipment and Safe Resident Room Flooring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain kitchen equipment in working order and did not have a system in place to track maintenance requests, affecting the safety and cleanliness of the food preparation area. Observations revealed that the garbage disposal connected to the dishwasher had been out of service for over a month, and both the three-compartment sink and the food prep sink were leaking. The Dietary Manager reported these issues to maintenance, but the Plant and Maintenance Director was unaware of the ongoing leaks and only became aware of the disposal issue after being notified. There was no formal work order system in place; staff communicated maintenance needs informally through calls, texts, or in-person notifications. Documentation showed delays in obtaining and approving a quote for the disposal replacement, and facility policy required written notification of equipment issues, which was not followed. Additionally, the facility failed to ensure a safe and clean environment in resident areas, as 35 resident rooms were missing transition strips between the rooms and hallways. Some rooms had wide gaps between the flooring, and some had a build-up of black sticky residue. The Administrator confirmed the missing transition strips and stated that some flooring had been replaced up to a year and a half prior, with ongoing efforts to order new strips. These deficiencies affected a significant number of residents who resided in the impacted rooms.