Failure to Maintain Comfortable Room Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain comfortable room temperatures for multiple residents, as evidenced by observations and interviews. Temperatures in several resident rooms and common areas were recorded as significantly below standard comfort levels, with some rooms as low as 37.7 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit. Residents reported that the facility had been cold for an extended period, with some stating the issue had persisted since Thanksgiving and even over the past three years. Residents described needing to use extra blankets, wear hoodies, and avoid activities due to the cold conditions in their rooms and common areas. Interviews with residents confirmed ongoing discomfort, with several stating that the cold was unbearable and that they had to rely on family members to bring additional blankets or space heaters. The Resident Council president noted that activities were not being held because the activity room was too cold, and residents had to sleep in thick clothing and multiple blankets. Observations corroborated these statements, with residents seen bundled in blankets and expressing dissatisfaction with the facility's temperature. Staff interviews and documentation revealed that the facility's heating system had been malfunctioning, with one boiler out of service and issues with newly installed rooftop units. Delays in obtaining and installing the correct parts, as well as incomplete repairs, contributed to the prolonged period of inadequate heating. Temporary measures, such as rental heaters and providing hot beverages, were implemented, but these did not fully resolve the issue, as residents continued to report discomfort and low temperatures persisted in various areas of the facility.