F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
F

Soiled Wheelchairs, Unclean Resident Areas, and Missing Plumbing Backflow Device

Caretel Inns Of Tri-citiesBay City, Michigan Survey Completed on 08-07-2025

Summary

The facility failed to maintain clean wheelchairs for five residents. During initial screening on 8/5/2025, wheelchairs were observed with strands of hair, dried or sticky substances, dust, debris, and other buildup. Resident #6’s wheelchair had dust, debris, and sand-like particles on both footrests and in the crevices of the chair, and the resident stated he did not believe the chair had been cleaned since admission. Resident #38’s wheelchair had a red tacky substance on the wheels and unknown built-up material in the crevices and around the brakes. Resident #15 stated her wheelchair had not been cleaned in 1.5 years and said staff were supposed to clean it when she was showered; her chair had unknown debris particles in some areas. Resident #41 stated in Resident Council that her wheelchair was not routinely cleaned by facility staff, and Resident #44’s wheelchair was observed with particles, hair, and dust. The DON stated aides were responsible for cleaning resident chairs, and no documentation was found in the residents’ charts related to wheelchair cleaning. The facility also failed to ensure a clean and comfortable environment in resident rooms and hallways. Observation of the 100 hall revealed numerous black scuff marks on walls and resident doors, food and paper on the floor in Room 103, scuffed walls and chipped paint on wall molding, and another room with paper on the floor, scuffed walls, dirty bathroom floor, food under and beside the bed, a sticky substance on the bedside table, a urinal partly under the bed, torn wallpaper, and a dirty bathroom floor. Observation of the 400 hall revealed a large gray trash bin with food and dirty medical gloves inside sitting in the hallway in front of the office with no lid. Housekeeping staff stated they cleaned resident rooms after public areas and that there were only two housekeepers for all resident rooms, while the Housekeeping Supervisor stated there were complaints about wallpaper, wall marks, dirty carpets, and that the carpets were stained and nasty. The facility also failed to maintain plumbing in good repair. On 8/5/2025, an atmospheric vacuum breaker was observed missing from the top of the utility sink in Bay 1, leaving the water system open to the environment. When the sink was turned on, water spewed out from the top where the vacuum breaker was supposed to be. The Maintenance Director stated the vacuum breaker had been ordered and said that when things are broken, they fix them when they notice it. The report also noted that the Infection Control RN did daily morning sweeps and looked into resident rooms, but did not document observations of infection control rounds on hallways or resident rooms.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0921 citations
Unsanitary bathroom conditions with unresolved maintenance issues
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsanitary bathroom conditions were observed in 7 rooms, with black and dark filmy growth on ceilings, walls, doors, and door frames, along with warm, musty, foul-smelling conditions. Follow-up checks showed the growth and odors remained, and prior work orders documented mold, ventilation, and A/C concerns without completion dates recorded.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room: A resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's dementia, CKD, HTN, and depression was observed in a room where wallpaper next to the bed was loose and peeling away from the wall. A NA said the damage had been present for months and the resident had been pulling at it, while an LPN said they were not aware of the issue. The maintenance director said the wallpaper needed repair, but no maintenance requests were found for the room.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unclean hallways and inconsistent room cleaning
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A facility failed to keep 4 hallways clean and comfortable, with stained carpets, food debris, urine odor, and cluttered resident rooms observed. Residents reported rooms were not cleaned routinely, one said a spill was left sticky after being wiped but not mopped, and a grievance showed food spills remained for days before cleaning. Staff said housekeeping could not always complete daily room cleaning and that staffing was limited.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Sewer Line and Sanitary Conditions
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain the sewer line and sanitary environment resulted in raw sewage backing up through toilets and shower drains into resident rooms and hallways, with wastewater also leaking into an office area. Residents reported repeated clogs, the building water supply was shut off for hours, and staff confirmed corroded piping, flushed wipes, and that no medical or clinical assessments were completed after residents were exposed to sewage and fumes.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Pest activity and unsanitary conditions observed in resident areas
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Pest activity and unsanitary conditions were observed in resident areas and near the garbage area. A resident reported a spider on her curtain and a fly in her room, another resident reported flies during meals, and a family member reported roaches, moldy walls, and chipped paint in a resident room. Staff also observed dead insects near the kitchen exit, leaking waste at the garbage compactor, uncovered dumpsters, and unused equipment stored outdoors on muddy ground.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Safe Common-Area Temperatures
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain comfortable temperatures in common areas: surveyors found the dining rooms, hallway, lobby, and kitchen at or above 81 F, with the kitchen reaching 86 F while outdoor heat index conditions were very high. Staff reported the chiller had failed the prior year, the roof unit serving the kitchen and dining room had gone out the prior week, and portable AC units were being used in hallways and dining areas; a resident said bingo was too hot and humid and hard to breathe.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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