Resident Rooms Not Maintained in Safe and Homelike Condition
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain resident rooms in a safe, clean, and homelike condition for four residents. Specifically, privacy curtains in one resident's room were found to be dirty with a brown substance, and the pull cord for the overhead light was broken and replaced with plastic bags tied together. Additional observations revealed that other residents' overhead lighting pull cords were extended using makeshift materials such as plastic bags, fabric strips, and a nightgown strip. These conditions were confirmed during joint observations and interviews with facility staff, who acknowledged the presence of these non-homelike and unclean items. Staff interviews indicated that maintenance issues were expected to be reported to nursing staff and then to maintenance, but the use of inappropriate materials for pull cords and the presence of soiled privacy curtains had not been addressed. The Maintenance Director stated that rooms were checked daily and that clean privacy curtains were available, but acknowledged that the observed conditions were not acceptable. The Administrator also confirmed that staff were expected to report maintenance issues and that the use of plastic bags as pull cords was not permitted. The deficiency was cited under WAC 388-97-0880 (1) for failing to provide a homelike environment.