Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program in one of two nursing units and the kitchen area. During a tour of a resident's room, surveyors observed a broken nightstand drawer containing opened food items such as cookies and nuts, as well as mouse droppings in the top two drawers of a dresser near the window. The resident, who was admitted with dementia, anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder, was assessed as severely impaired in decision-making. A licensed nurse confirmed the presence of food and droppings, noting that family members sometimes bring in food without staff knowledge. A grievance was filed by the resident's spouse regarding mouse droppings and chewed food bags in the resident's drawer, which was confirmed by housekeeping, but documentation of resolution was incomplete. Pest control reports from April and May indicated ongoing issues with roaches and mice, particularly in the kitchen and second floor nursing unit. The pest control company recommended deep cleaning and additional services due to poor sanitation and excessive roach activity, but service logs were incomplete, with missing details on pesticide application and locations treated. The facility's pest control schedule was unclear, and the last documented service was on May 19, despite continued pest concerns. Additionally, the dumpster area was found to have trash and food debris, contributing to the pest problem.