Failure to Maintain Safe and Homelike Environment Due to Environmental Deficiencies
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for its residents, as evidenced by multiple environmental deficiencies observed and reported. In several resident rooms, bathroom lights made loud screeching noises, faucets leaked, and hot water temperatures were consistently below acceptable levels, ranging from 82.7 to 88.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents reported that these issues had persisted for several days to weeks, with staff aware of the problems but no effective resolution. Residents described receiving lukewarm washcloths for care due to the lack of hot water, and staff apologized for the inconvenience. The maintenance staff member confirmed the environmental concerns upon his return from a two-week absence, acknowledging he had received messages about the water temperature issues but could not recall to whom he reported them. Additional environmental hazards were identified in the facility's common areas, including cracks in the blacktop parking lot and broken, uneven sidewalks with loose chunks of cement, creating potential safety risks. The corporate RN verified the presence of these hazards and acknowledged that the parking lot and sidewalk conditions should have been addressed. The facility did not provide a specific policy regarding environmental maintenance, stating only that they follow standard protocol, which was not produced upon request. These findings affected all 11 residents reviewed for environmental conditions, with a total facility census of 34.