Failure to Maintain Stable and Safe Dining Tables
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, sanitary, comfortable, and homelike environment for one resident and for multiple tables in the dining room. Specifically, a resident with multiple medical conditions, including atherosclerotic heart disease, schizoaffective disorder, major depressive disorder, muscle weakness, and osteoporosis, was observed attempting to stand up from a wobbly dining table. The instability of the table caused her coffee cup to slide across the surface, and she reported that the wobbly table made it difficult for her to stand up safely after meals. Her care plan identified her as a fall risk and required a safe environment, but the unstable table compromised her safety during daily activities. Additionally, observations revealed that 9 out of 22 dining tables in the dining room were unstable or wobbly when touched. The Maintenance Supervisor confirmed the issue, noting previous complaints and a completed work order several months prior, but stated that tables were not routinely checked for stability and repairs were only made upon receiving work order requests. Both the DON and Administrator acknowledged that all staff were responsible for reporting unsafe furniture and that the maintenance system relied on staff-initiated work orders. The facility did not have a routine process in place to regularly check the stability of dining tables, contributing to the ongoing presence of wobbly tables in the dining area.