Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Ambient Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to maintain a safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents, staff, and the public by not ensuring comfortable ambient temperatures throughout the building. On the morning of 4/17/25, residents on all three units complained about the facility being cold, and were observed wrapped in blankets in the hallway. Room temperatures measured by surveyors, accompanied by the maintenance director, ranged from 65 to 68 degrees in resident rooms, below the facility's stated minimum of 71 degrees. The maintenance director explained that the building's old heating and cooling system could not keep up with fluctuating temperatures and that the chiller in use was not functioning properly due to prior vandalism and ongoing mechanical issues. Internal emails revealed that the chiller project had been delayed for months, with unresolved repairs and concerns about potential state action if not addressed. Additionally, water was observed dripping from the ceiling into a trash can in one unit, attributed to condensation from a malfunctioning rooftop air conditioning unit. The maintenance director reported that a technician found significant ice buildup on the coils, requiring the unit to be shut down for repairs. A review of past surveys showed the facility had previously been cited for lack of a functioning air conditioning system. Despite the facility's policy requiring timely repairs, by the end of the survey, the heating and air conditioning issues remained unresolved, and the administrator was made aware of the ongoing deficiencies.