Failure to Supervise Resident Smoking and Enforce Designated Smoking Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents who smoked were properly supervised and that smoking occurred only in designated areas, as required by facility policy. Observations revealed that one resident, who was assessed as requiring supervision while smoking, was seen smoking unsupervised near the facility's main entrance, despite a posted no smoking sign. Staff interviews confirmed that this resident was supposed to be supervised and to smoke only in the designated area, with smoking materials stored by staff. The resident confirmed that staff provided him with his smoking supplies that morning, but he proceeded to smoke unsupervised outside the main entrance. Another resident, who was assessed as safe to smoke without direct supervision, was observed smoking in the facility's parking lot rather than in the designated smoking area or off facility property, as required by policy. This resident acknowledged awareness of the rule to smoke off facility property and confirmed that staff kept his smoking supplies at the nurses' station. Staff interviews corroborated that residents not requiring supervision were expected to smoke off facility property, but this was not being followed. Additionally, multiple cigarette butts were observed discarded on the ground along the sidewalk, in the parking lot, and in the mulch at the facility's entrance and in the designated smoking area. Although a non-combustible container was available for disposal, cigarette butts were found in inappropriate locations, indicating that residents were not consistently using the proper containers to extinguish smoking materials. These findings demonstrate a failure to maintain safe smoking practices and adequate supervision as outlined in the facility's smoking policy.