Failure to Maintain Resident Room in Good Repair Resulting in Unsafe and Unclean Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident's room in good repair, resulting in repeated water leakage from a faulty drainpipe connected to the sink in the resident's room. The issue was observed to cause water damage to the wall, including ripples, bubbles, peeling paint, missing baseboard, and discoloration. The resident reported that the leak had been ongoing since he moved into the room and that he had notified the maintenance director multiple times, including submitting a work order eight months prior, but the problem persisted. Staff routinely had to address water flooding into the hallway by placing wet floor signs and using towels to prevent slips. The housekeeping supervisor confirmed awareness of the wall's condition and noted that renovations had not yet begun as planned. The resident involved had significant medical conditions, including major depressive disorder, cirrhosis of the liver, a liver transplant, severe alcohol dependence, and chronic kidney disease. On one occasion, the water leak triggered a confrontation between the resident and a CNA, with the resident accusing the CNA of causing the flooding and alleging physical abuse, which was denied by the CNA and not substantiated by staff interviews. The ongoing water leakage and lack of timely repair contributed to an environment that was not safe, clean, or homelike, as required by resident rights policies.