Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in ongoing issues with pests such as ants, roaches, and other insects in resident rooms, common areas, and the kitchen. Direct observations included live insects in resident bathrooms, hallways, and on clean linen carts, as well as ants crawling in a resident's bed and on the walls near the nurse's station. Multiple staff and residents confirmed persistent problems with ants and roaches, with one staff member reporting the recent killing of 13 roaches on their assigned unit. Pest sightings were consistently documented in the facility's pest control logs over several months, indicating a recurring problem. Pest control company inspection reports corroborated these findings, noting dead and live roaches in the kitchen storage area and ongoing issues with ants in resident rooms. Structural issues, such as cracks and lifting tiles in the kitchen flooring, were identified as contributing factors, providing hiding places for pests. The facility's administrator acknowledged that the current pest control program had not been effective in containing household pests, and the facility had a history of noncompliance with pest control requirements as identified in a previous recertification survey.