Failure to Maintain Comfortable Temperatures and Clean Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain comfortable temperatures on two of five nursing units (E and F), resulting in resident rooms and common areas reaching temperatures above the recommended range for resident comfort. Multiple residents reported feeling uncomfortably warm, and room temperatures were recorded as high as 87 degrees Fahrenheit in the dining room and over 83 degrees Fahrenheit in several resident rooms. The HVAC system was reported as functioning, but the facility relied on portable air conditioning units to address the elevated temperatures. Staff interviews and temperature logs confirmed that the temperature in some areas exceeded the facility's stated comfort range of 71-81 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, the facility failed to provide a clean, homelike environment in at least one resident room. Observations over several days revealed that a black pedestal fan in a resident's room had a moderate amount of gray fuzz on the casing and blades, indicating it was not being cleaned regularly. The DON confirmed that the fan should have been included on a cleaning schedule, but this was not being done at the time of the observations.