Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents and staff on both nursing units that were toured. Observations included an air conditioning unit covered in a black substance, a large brown stain on a fitted sheet, and pillows without case covers in a resident's room. A resident reported that his linens were dirty and that the air conditioner had the black substance on it, and staff provided new pillowcases but did not change the dirty sheet or address the air conditioner. Additionally, an uncapped 50 milliliter syringe was found lying on a resident's bed while tube feeding was infusing, and staff did not remove it during their visit. Further observations revealed worn fitted sheets and unsecured oxygen tanks in resident rooms, contrary to the facility's policy requiring oxygen cylinders to be secured to prevent tipping. In the shower room, a commode chair had a black dirt ring, wash cloths were left on grab bars, a thermometer was covered in a dried black substance, and the shower curtain had gray stains. The administrator confirmed that these environmental issues should have been addressed.