Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Resident Environment Due to Missing Vent Cover and Damaged Furniture
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents in one of five rooms observed. In the identified room, the metal vent cover was missing from the air conditioning opening in the ceiling, and a large amount of black substance was observed attached to the metal tubing inside the opening. Warm air was blowing out of the opening, and the room was warm with no air circulating. Additionally, the built-in dresser in the room was missing four drawers and two doors, leaving resident clothing exposed and metal brackets accessible, which could be hazardous. The resident occupying the room had a history of acute and chronic respiratory failure with hypercapnia, COPD with acute exacerbation, and essential hypertension. The resident required continuous oxygen and reported difficulty sleeping and breathing at night due to the room being too hot. During observation, the resident was using oxygen while in a wheelchair and stated the need for oxygen 24 hours a day. The care plan for the resident included interventions to monitor respiratory status and ensure adequate oxygenation. Interviews with facility staff revealed that the maintenance assistant, who was new to long-term care, was checking room temperatures due to high outdoor temperatures. The assistant noted that the vent cover had fallen off and acknowledged that the lack of a cover allowed warm air to enter the room, making it warmer. The administrator was unaware of the missing vent cover but was aware of the dresser's condition, stating it could not be repaired before the resident moved in. Facility policy on air conditioning failures was reviewed, but the observed deficiencies in the room environment were not addressed prior to the survey.