Failure to Maintain Clean, Sanitary, and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide a clean, sanitary, and homelike environment for its residents, as evidenced by multiple observations of unaddressed maintenance and housekeeping issues throughout the building. During several tours, surveyors noted peeling wallpaper, missing or damaged baseboards, exposed and damaged walls, stained and wet ceiling tiles, chipped and peeling paint, rust around sinks, and heating units with built-up dirt or missing covers. Bathrooms were found with dirty toilets, built-up dirt rings, and peeling wallpaper, while several rooms had visible dirt and debris behind doors, soiled privacy curtains, and improperly hung window or privacy curtains. Gnats were observed in one room, and there were reports of full urinals left hanging off garbage cans. These findings were verified by facility staff, including the Housekeeping and Laundry Supervisor, President of Plant Operations, and Maintenance Director. Interviews with facility staff revealed gaps in routine maintenance and cleaning practices. The President of Plant Operations admitted to not conducting regular site visits for general upkeep and cleanliness, and the Maintenance Director was new to the role. Housekeeping staff reported being short-staffed, which resulted in deep cleaning of resident rooms not being performed as scheduled. Documentation review showed that room rounds and inspections were inconsistently conducted, with no room checks recorded after mid-July, and the Regional Director of Operations was unable to confirm the frequency of these rounds due to being new in the position. Additionally, the deep cleaning schedule did not include the first-floor units, and daily cleaning checklists, while present, were undated and not consistently followed. Further review of facility records and communications indicated ongoing issues with the building's overall appearance and maintenance, including unaddressed cosmetic repairs, poor landscaping, and exterior disrepair. An email to facility leadership highlighted a backlog of cosmetic repairs that could be addressed with basic maintenance, and the TELS system for logging building repairs was not being addressed daily. The facility's policy on providing a homelike environment emphasized the importance of cleanliness and order, but the observed conditions and lack of consistent oversight and staffing led to non-compliance with this standard, potentially affecting all residents in the facility.