Failure to Maintain Safe and Comfortable Hot Water Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain hot water temperatures within a comfortable and safe range for residents in bathrooms and showers, affecting all 206 residents. Multiple residents reported that the water had been cold or freezing for at least one to three weeks, making showering uncomfortable and leading some to avoid bathing altogether. Residents consistently documented their complaints in maintenance logs and voiced their concerns to staff, including the resident council president, who highlighted the issue multiple times. Staff interviews confirmed that complaints had been ongoing, and maintenance logs reflected repeated reports of inadequate hot water. Direct observations and water temperature testing conducted by the Maintenance Director and other staff on various dates revealed that hot water temperatures in resident bathrooms and shower rooms ranged from 65.2 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit, well below the facility's policy requirement of 100-110 degrees Fahrenheit. The Maintenance Director acknowledged awareness of the issue and stated that water temperatures were only being checked twice a week, and that he did not take further action initially, opting to wait and see if the mixing valve would resolve the problem. Maintenance logs and resident council meeting minutes further documented ongoing concerns about insufficient hot water. Staff, including CNAs and RNs, confirmed that they had received numerous complaints from residents about the lack of hot water and had communicated these concerns to maintenance. Despite these reports, the issue persisted for an extended period, with maintenance staff only beginning to address the problem in the days immediately preceding the survey. The facility's own policy required staff to ensure water was at a comfortable and safe temperature before bathing residents, but this standard was not met during the period in question.