Failure to Address Resident Grievances Regarding Excessive Room Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor residents' rights to voice grievances and to provide prompt efforts to resolve them, as required by policy. Three residents reported that their rooms and common areas were uncomfortably hot, with temperatures measured as high as 88.9 degrees Fahrenheit in some rooms and 84.4 degrees Fahrenheit in common areas. Despite these complaints, there was no documentation of grievances related to room temperatures, and residents stated that their concerns were reported to staff and management multiple times without resolution. Staff interviews confirmed that high temperatures were a known issue, and that only maintenance personnel could adjust cooling equipment, which was sometimes nonfunctional or turned off due to other resident complaints. Residents described persistent discomfort due to the heat, with one resident noting that her room thermometer frequently registered temperatures in the upper 80s and up to 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents reported that fans provided little relief and that their rooms were located far from water coolers, which were sometimes not operational or effective. Staff responses to the heat included providing extra ice and closing shades, but these measures did not address the underlying temperature issues. The facility administrator was unaware of any current complaints about room temperatures and did not have records of grievances, despite multiple residents stating they had reported their concerns.