Failure to Report and Address Nonfunctioning Thermostats and Temperature Regulation
Penalty
Summary
Facility maintenance failed to report nonfunctioning thermostats to administration for three sampled residents, resulting in the air conditioning unit being turned off at night due to an inability to regulate building temperatures. This led to resident complaints about excessive heat during nighttime hours. Observations and interviews confirmed that maintenance staff routinely turned the HVAC system on and off from the roof, as there were no functioning thermostats to regulate temperature, and staff were unaware of the last time the HVAC system was serviced. Maintenance staff also did not inform administration about the nonfunctioning thermostats or the ongoing temperature regulation issues. Residents affected by this deficiency included individuals with significant medical conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, migraines, obesity, cardiovascular disease, stroke with hemiplegia, major depressive disorder, anxiety, hypotension, COPD, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, cellulitis, insomnia, GERD, hypertension, and nicotine dependence. Some residents required maximal assistance with activities of daily living and had impaired cognition, while others were dependent on staff for toileting and bathing. Multiple residents reported discomfort due to heat at night, and observations confirmed that fans in resident rooms were not always functional or circulating air. Despite the presence of 55 portable air conditioning units in storage, maintenance staff did not offer these units to residents who complained about the heat, nor did they notify administration of the temperature control issues. Facility policy required that all temperature complaints and malfunctions be reported to administration and documented, but this process was not followed. The maintenance supervisor and assistant were aware of the portable units but did not distribute them or escalate the issue, resulting in continued resident discomfort and noncompliance with facility policy regarding temperature regulation.