Failure to Maintain and Secure Corridor Handrails
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all corridors had handrails and that existing handrails were securely affixed to the walls, as observed during multiple walkthroughs. Specific deficiencies included missing handrails between rooms and common areas, around the perimeters of nurses' stations, and in various hallways across the 100, 200, 300, and 400 halls. Additionally, several handrails were found to be loose, broken, or pulled away from the wall. These issues were directly observed by surveyors at different times throughout the facility. Interviews with the Maintenance Director and the Administrator revealed that the facility was aware of the missing and damaged handrails. The Maintenance Director stated that handrails were checked every three months and acknowledged the absence of necessary replacement parts, as well as the ongoing process of replacing plastic handrails with wooden ones. Both the Maintenance Director and the Administrator were not fully aware of the requirement for handrails to be present outside nurses' stations and on both sides of all corridors used by residents. The facility's area audit and preventative maintenance inspection listed handrails as an item for staff to inspect, but deficiencies persisted.