Failure to Maintain Clean, Comfortable, and Homelike Resident Environment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for multiple residents, as evidenced by direct observations, record reviews, and interviews. Several rooms were found with significant cleanliness and maintenance issues. For example, one resident had a dirty brief left on the floor for over an hour, which was confirmed by both the resident and an LPN. Other rooms had window curtains that were improperly hung, faded, wrinkled, and with hems detached, as well as missing drawer fronts, broken glass picture frames with shards of glass, loose wallpaper, and unpainted plastered areas. These conditions were verified by both residents and the Environmental Director, who acknowledged the need for repairs or replacements. Additional observations included rooms with air conditioning units containing fabric softener sheets and food debris, walls with brownish/red splatters and exposed drywall, and areas of black substance on the floor. Residents reported that these unsightly and unclean conditions had been present since they moved into their rooms, and some had attempted to clean the areas themselves without success. Maintenance staff confirmed the presence of these issues, including the splattered walls, exposed drywall, and debris in the air conditioning units. In another instance, a resident's window shade was found to have brown splatter that had not been cleaned for over four years, as confirmed by both the resident and an LPN. The report documents that these deficiencies affected residents with various medical conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, morbid obesity, and cognitive impairments. The findings were substantiated through interviews with residents, nursing staff, and maintenance personnel, all of whom confirmed the ongoing nature of the environmental deficiencies.