Failure to Prevent and Control Roach Infestation in Resident Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prevent and control a live roach infestation in resident rooms, resulting in roaches being observed in beds and throughout resident living areas. Multiple residents, all with cognitive capacity as indicated by their BIMS scores, reported or were observed to have roaches in their rooms, on their mattresses, and in personal spaces such as wheelchairs. Family members and staff confirmed the presence of roaches, with one family member describing roaches running throughout a resident's mattress and emerging from clean sheets. Staff, including CNAs and housekeeping, reported that roaches were prevalent on multiple floors and were especially noticeable when food was present or beds were moved for cleaning. Maintenance logs documented repeated reports of roaches and bed bugs in resident rooms over several months. Interviews with facility leadership, including the administrator, DON, and housekeeping director, confirmed awareness of the ongoing roach problem. Staff stated that they were instructed to report pest sightings on maintenance logs, but the issue persisted despite regular extermination efforts. The facility's pest control policy, which requires prevention and control of insects, was not effectively implemented, as evidenced by continued reports and direct observations of live roaches in resident areas. The administrator attributed the infestation in part to resident behaviors and external factors but acknowledged the ongoing problem.