Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Room Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, functional, and comfortable environment for residents, as evidenced by excessively high temperatures in two of eleven resident rooms reviewed. Facility policy requires maintaining room temperatures between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit, but observations and temperature logs revealed that several rooms, including those occupied by two residents, consistently exceeded this range, with recorded temperatures as high as 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The issue was exacerbated by malfunctioning air conditioning units, inadequate monitoring, and delayed or incomplete maintenance responses. Interviews with staff, including the Director of Maintenance and the Nursing Home Administrator, revealed confusion and lack of clarity regarding responsibilities for monitoring room temperatures, especially during second and overnight shifts. The Director of Maintenance was unable to provide comprehensive temperature logs prior to his employment and noted a backlog of incomplete maintenance requests. Additionally, there was no evidence of an external air conditioning servicing company being used, and all maintenance was handled internally, with the Regional Director of Maintenance unavailable due to personal reasons. Documentation showed that temperature checks were not consistently performed, particularly on weekends, and that the facility was unable to provide proof that residents or their representatives were offered room changes when unsafe temperatures were identified. The Nursing Home Administrator admitted to not overseeing the temperature monitoring process or reviewing temperature logs, and there was no documentation to confirm that residents were given options for relocation. These failures resulted in residents being exposed to unsafe and uncomfortable environmental conditions.