Failure to Maintain Adequate Linen Supply for Resident Comfort and Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for three residents across both nursing units due to a persistent shortage of linens, including bed sheets, bath towels, and washcloths. Residents reported frequent unavailability of clean linens, with one resident stating that after an accident in bed, staff had to search the building for clean sheets, sometimes taking up to an hour. Another resident expressed uncertainty about the availability of clean sheets, and a third resident confirmed a daily shortage of bath towels, washcloths, and sheets. These concerns were also documented in resident council meeting grievance reports, which noted ongoing issues with insufficient linen supplies. During a tour of the units, a linen cart inspection revealed only a minimal supply of linens available. Staff interviews, including those with the Director of Housekeeping and Laundry, as well as nurse aides, confirmed the ongoing linen shortage. The Director of Housekeeping and Laundry attributed the shortage to a delayed linen purchase order due to billing issues. Both the Nursing Home Administrator and the Director of Nursing acknowledged the facility's failure to meet the required standards for providing a safe, clean, and homelike environment for the affected residents.