Failure to Meet Minimum Square Footage Requirements in Multi-Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that multi-resident bedrooms provided the required minimum of 80 square feet per resident in 16 out of 22 rooms, as identified through observation, interview, and record review. A facility document listing room measurements showed that several three-bed and two-bed rooms had less than the required square footage per resident, with some rooms offering as little as 71.7 to 73.7 square feet per resident. During the survey, care was observed in these rooms, and the room sizes did not appear to limit the provision of care. No negative impacts on residents' health, safety, or comfort were observed, and residents interviewed reported being comfortable and having no concerns about space or privacy. Interviews with the DON and Administrator confirmed awareness of the room size deficiency, with both stating there had been no complaints or concerns from staff or residents regarding space or privacy. The facility maintained a policy to ensure resident comfort with living space and to assess for any adverse effects on health and safety related to room size. The Administrator noted that the facility was requesting a continued room waiver for the affected rooms.