Resident lounge storage and laundry handling failures
Summary
The facility failed to maintain resident lounge areas as safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environments by storing wheelchairs and a geri-recliner in two resident lounges. Observations showed three wheelchairs and one geri-recliner in the 1st floor resident lounge, and three wheelchairs in the 2nd floor resident lounge. In both areas, two of the wheelchairs were electric but were not charging or plugged in, and one was a custom standard wheelchair. The geri-recliner in the 1st floor lounge blocked access to other chairs and furniture. A resident who regularly used the 1st floor lounge for puzzles stated the room was being used as a storage room and that access to the table was often difficult. Another resident in the 2nd floor lounge stated the wheelchairs were always stored there and the room often felt cluttered. The Administrator acknowledged the equipment was being stored in resident areas and that the lounges were frequently used by residents and visitors. The facility also failed to ensure residents’ personal laundry was returned and laundered appropriately. Resident Council minutes documented repeated complaints about laundry delays, a broken dryer, missing clothing, and clothing returned in poor condition. Residents reported missing items, bleached clothing, and offensive-smelling or stained linens. One resident stated clothing had been lost multiple times and a sweatshirt was returned months later after being found in the laundry department. Another resident reported expensive jeans and sweaters were returned bleached and that bed sheets smelled offensive and were stained. Additional residents reported missing clothing, clothing returned bleached, and having to do their own laundry or go off-site because of the condition of the facility laundry service. Staff interviews and observations supported the laundry concerns. A nurse aide stated she frequently did not have personal clothes available for residents on her assignment and had to search the laundry room for clean clothing, which was often not laundered or missing. Observation of the soiled laundry room showed overflowing bins of soiled and sorted laundry. A laundry aide stated only one of five dryers and two of four washers were working, that he dried laundry left in washers from the previous day, and that linens were prioritized over residents’ personal clothing. The facility’s personal clothing policy stated belongings would be safeguarded and clean clothing returned to the correct unit, room, and closet, but it did not identify a timeline for return. A resident with dementia and significant ADL dependence had multiple missing personal items, including clothing, shoes, a comforter set, and a blanket, and the social worker could not provide documentation of follow-up or resolution. The environmental director stated permanent-marker labels were not permanent and that the facility had iron-on labels, while also noting multiple bags of unidentified laundry.
Penalty
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