F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
F

Unsanitary resident room and kitchen food prep area

Pathstone LivingMankato, Minnesota Survey Completed on 12-15-2025

Summary

The facility failed to provide a comfortable and sanitary environment for one resident who had diagnoses including hemiplegia following stroke, diabetes, chronic pain, and dementia. The resident’s quarterly MDS indicated intact cognition, clear speech, highly impaired vision, adequate hearing, and substantial assistance or dependence for ADLs, and the care plan noted left-sided hemiplegia, need for assist of two staff with a Hoyer, preference for a commode, and impaired visual function with legal blindness. During observation in the resident’s room, an extra wide commode was found with the waste bucket filled to the rim of the seat with toilet paper, the odor of BM permeated the room, wet wipes were left open on the commode arm, the overbed table with food and drinks was touching the commode, a pillow was on the floor, items were piled in the corner, and the wastebasket beside the dresser was full with a soiled brief hanging over the side. During interview, the nurse manager observed the room and stated it was not okay to leave a commode like that. She stated staff were expected to remove and/or empty a commode right away, take trash out when they left the room, and pick up the room before exiting. She also stated newer staff had issues with time management and that nursing report included reminders about removing trash, closing wet wipe packages, and cleaning commodes. The resident stated he was not aware of the cleanliness of his room because of limited eyesight, thought staff did a good job keeping it clean, and expected staff to keep the room clean because he could not do it himself. The facility also failed to maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen food preparation and service area. During the kitchen tour, an electrical outlet and extension cord above the food service area were observed with gray, fuzzy debris present, and the cord extended down from the ceiling to a printer. The debris-covered cords were located directly above clean plates, near the steam table, and adjacent to a food preparation area. The culinary director and environmental director both confirmed the cords were dirty, covered in debris and lint, required cleaning, and were not on a routine cleaning schedule. The culinary director stated debris could fall onto uncovered plates during meal plating, and the environmental director stated debris-covered cords would not be expected over a food preparation area due to the risk of debris falling onto plates or food being prepared.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0921 citations
Unsanitary bathroom conditions with unresolved maintenance issues
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsanitary bathroom conditions were observed in 7 rooms, with black and dark filmy growth on ceilings, walls, doors, and door frames, along with warm, musty, foul-smelling conditions. Follow-up checks showed the growth and odors remained, and prior work orders documented mold, ventilation, and A/C concerns without completion dates recorded.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room: A resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's dementia, CKD, HTN, and depression was observed in a room where wallpaper next to the bed was loose and peeling away from the wall. A NA said the damage had been present for months and the resident had been pulling at it, while an LPN said they were not aware of the issue. The maintenance director said the wallpaper needed repair, but no maintenance requests were found for the room.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unclean hallways and inconsistent room cleaning
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A facility failed to keep 4 hallways clean and comfortable, with stained carpets, food debris, urine odor, and cluttered resident rooms observed. Residents reported rooms were not cleaned routinely, one said a spill was left sticky after being wiped but not mopped, and a grievance showed food spills remained for days before cleaning. Staff said housekeeping could not always complete daily room cleaning and that staffing was limited.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Sewer Line and Sanitary Conditions
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain the sewer line and sanitary environment resulted in raw sewage backing up through toilets and shower drains into resident rooms and hallways, with wastewater also leaking into an office area. Residents reported repeated clogs, the building water supply was shut off for hours, and staff confirmed corroded piping, flushed wipes, and that no medical or clinical assessments were completed after residents were exposed to sewage and fumes.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Pest activity and unsanitary conditions observed in resident areas
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Pest activity and unsanitary conditions were observed in resident areas and near the garbage area. A resident reported a spider on her curtain and a fly in her room, another resident reported flies during meals, and a family member reported roaches, moldy walls, and chipped paint in a resident room. Staff also observed dead insects near the kitchen exit, leaking waste at the garbage compactor, uncovered dumpsters, and unused equipment stored outdoors on muddy ground.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Safe Common-Area Temperatures
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain comfortable temperatures in common areas: surveyors found the dining rooms, hallway, lobby, and kitchen at or above 81 F, with the kitchen reaching 86 F while outdoor heat index conditions were very high. Staff reported the chiller had failed the prior year, the roof unit serving the kitchen and dining room had gone out the prior week, and portable AC units were being used in hallways and dining areas; a resident said bingo was too hot and humid and hard to breathe.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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