Failure to Maintain Clean and Intact Ceiling Vents in Dining Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and comfortable environment in the dining room by not keeping nine ceiling vents free from dust buildup and chipped paint. Observations over several days revealed that all nine ceiling vents above resident dining tables had visible dust and chipped paint, with particles being blown into the air directly over areas where residents were eating. These conditions were consistently observed during multiple meal services, with staff serving meals to groups of residents while dust and paint chips were visibly airborne in the dining area. However, there was no observation of dust or paint chips directly in the residents' food. Interviews with the Maintenance Director, Regional Consultant, and Administrator confirmed the presence of dust and chipped paint on the vents. Maintenance logs showed that while HVAC filters had been changed regularly, there was no documentation of vent cleaning or maintenance. Both the Maintenance Director and Administrator acknowledged that the vents required cleaning and that the maintenance department was responsible for this task, but no cleaning schedule or records were provided.