Failure to Maintain Sanitary Shower Room Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for its residents by not addressing mold buildup in a common shower room. Multiple residents reported the presence of mold and uncollected wet towels and linens in the shower area, with one resident specifically stating that the common shower room was dirty and had mold around it. Observations confirmed the presence of blackish colored mold at the bottom of all four sides of the shower, as well as wet towels left on the floor. Staff interviews revealed that housekeeping was aware of the issue but had not cleaned or sanitized the area, citing a lack of available disinfectant. The Director of Nursing and Housekeeping Director both acknowledged that the shower room should be sanitized and mold-free, and that the issue had been reported by residents but not resolved due to waiting for disinfectant supplies. Facility records included a guideline for daily cleaning procedures, which specified that restrooms, including sinks and showers, should be disinfected. Despite these guidelines, the mold and unsanitary conditions persisted for several weeks, as confirmed by staff and resident interviews. The maintenance department was also noted as responsible for replacing a broken hot water sink knob in the same shower room, but this had not been addressed at the time of the survey.