Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Environment During Construction and Equipment Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a sanitary, safe, and homelike environment during ongoing construction in the dementia unit and in the maintenance of resident care equipment. On observation, the hallway to resident rooms in the Cottage Dementia Unit was found to have multiple accident hazards, including drop cloths, ladders, and power tools left on the floor while construction was underway. The fire doors to the hallway were closed, and there were no windows to see into the hallway. Several residents, three of whom were mobile and could walk unassisted or with a walker, were in their rooms with no staff present in the hallway or rooms to assist them if they exited. Facility staff confirmed that residents could access the hallway during construction, and there was no staff stationed to ensure their safety amid the hazards. Additionally, during a group resident council interview, residents reported that sit-to-stand lifts needed cleaning, specifically noting dirty wheels with hair stuck in them. An environmental tour confirmed that lifts on both the East Wing and another unit had dried substances, crumbs, and significant hair and debris buildup in the wheels. The Maintenance Supervisor acknowledged that CNAs typically cleaned the lifts between uses but focused mainly on handles and high-touch areas, leaving other parts uncleaned.