Failure to Maintain Homelike Environment Due to Broken Thermostats and Unclean Furniture
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for three residents. Observations revealed that multiple resident rooms had broken thermostats with no temperature indicators, making it impossible for residents or staff to determine or control the room temperature. Additionally, one resident's dresser was found to be missing a handle, had drawers that would not close, and was dirty with hardened paste on its surface. These issues were confirmed through interviews with the resident's power of attorney and the Maintenance Director, who acknowledged the problems and the lack of temperature markings on the analog thermostats. The facility's policies require that the environment be maintained in a homelike condition and that malfunctioning equipment be reported and addressed by the maintenance department. However, the observed deficiencies indicated that these policies were not followed, as the maintenance and housekeeping issues persisted until brought to the attention of staff during the survey. The Maintenance Director was unable to determine the temperature settings in the affected rooms and had to perform immediate, on-the-spot repairs and cleaning, further demonstrating the lack of ongoing maintenance and attention to resident comfort.