Failure to Maintain and Monitor Resident Refrigerators and Food Safety
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain and monitor residents' personal refrigerators, as evidenced by multiple observations and record reviews. One resident's freezer section was completely filled with accumulated ice, rendering the freezer door frozen shut and inaccessible. Temperature logs for this refrigerator were incomplete, with several days missing entries. Another resident's refrigerator contained expired food, significant ice buildup, a melted cup of ice cream, and unidentifiable crumbs at the bottom. The temperature log for this refrigerator was also incomplete for several days. Additionally, a third resident's refrigerator lacked a thermometer and contained undated and unlabeled food items, including a piece of chicken breast wrapped in saran wrap. Interviews with staff revealed confusion and inconsistency regarding responsibilities for cleaning, defrosting, temperature monitoring, and food disposal in resident refrigerators. CNAs, housekeeping, and maintenance staff each described different roles, with some overlap and lack of clarity. Facility policies required proper labeling, dating, and timely disposal of food brought in from outside, as well as regular checks and maintenance of resident refrigerators. However, these policies were not consistently followed, leading to the deficiencies observed.