Failure to Eliminate Persistent Odors Due to Ineffective Cleaning Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective policy and practice for eliminating odors, resulting in strong, persistent odors in the hallways and on care unit three hundred. During the survey, both staff and the facility ombudsman confirmed that odors have been an ongoing issue. The Director of Nursing stated that a company was contracted to clean the carpets, but the odor problem persisted. The maintenance supervisor reported that the odors originated from the carpets due to spills and resident accidents, and noted that the facility's carpet extractor, which is used between professional cleanings, was broken and had been out of service for some time. Facility policy requires maintaining a clean, odor-free, and comfortable environment, but observations and interviews indicated this standard was not met.