Failure to Maintain Sanitary and Homelike Environment
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to maintain a sanitary, orderly, and comfortable environment in both the North and South Buildings, as required by regulation. Observations revealed multiple deficiencies, including torn and stained privacy curtains in resident rooms, soiled and discolored walls, floors, and baseboards, and shower rooms with soiled furnishings, loose toilet seats, and unlabeled personal care items. Additional findings included broken blinds, wall board in disrepair, stained ceiling tiles, rusty ceiling tile grids, and soiled linens left on floors in both shower rooms and resident rooms. These conditions were directly observed by surveyors and corroborated by resident and staff interviews, which described the environment as unsanitary and lacking in ambiance. Interviews with residents and staff further confirmed the ongoing issues. One resident reported that their privacy curtain was stained with blood and had been unsanitary since admission, despite reporting it to staff. Staff members, including CNAs, RNs, and housekeeping aides, acknowledged the poor quality of the environment, noting dirty baseboards, grimy floors, and the presence of fecal matter on bathroom fixtures and furniture. Staff also indicated that maintenance and housekeeping were aware of some issues, such as broken floor tiles and soiled areas, but these problems persisted over time. Housekeeping staff reported challenges with cleaning certain areas due to wax buildup and damaged equipment, and maintenance staff were sometimes unaware of specific deficiencies until informed by surveyors or other staff. Documentation review showed that the facility had established housekeeping procedures and daily cleaning checklists, but completed checklists could not be produced during the survey. The Housekeeping Supervisor stated that audits of privacy curtains had been conducted and new curtains ordered, but many issues remained unresolved at the time of the survey. The Administrator and supervisors acknowledged problems with cleaning equipment and the need for further maintenance, but the observed deficiencies indicated a failure to ensure a safe, clean, and homelike environment for residents, as required by facility policy and regulation.