Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Room Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a comfortable environment for all 14 sampled residents when room temperatures exceeded the facility's stated acceptable range of 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit. During a facility tour, surveyors measured room temperatures between 82 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit using an infrared temperature gun. The administrator confirmed that the air conditioning unit was not functioning properly, resulting in elevated room temperatures that could negatively affect residents' health. Multiple residents with significant medical conditions, including heart failure, COPD, end stage renal disease, and respiratory failure, reported discomfort due to the heat in their rooms. Residents described the use of fans, both personal and in the hallway, but indicated these measures were insufficient to cool their rooms. The facility's policy on providing a homelike environment specifies maintaining comfortable and safe temperatures, which was not achieved during the survey period.