Failure to Maintain Resident Room Temperatures Within Required Range
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain all resident rooms at a comfortable temperature, as required by policy, affecting seven out of thirteen residents reviewed for heating concerns and potentially impacting all thirteen. Temperature audits conducted on multiple dates revealed that several resident rooms consistently measured below the facility's required range of 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit, with some rooms recorded as low as 64 to 68 degrees. Residents with various medical conditions, including dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, polyneuropathy, myocardial infarction, and muscle wasting, were affected. Interviews with residents confirmed that several rooms were cold, with some residents resorting to using multiple blankets or wearing extra clothing to stay warm, and one resident specifically noted difficulty moving due to the need for extra blankets. The Maintenance Director acknowledged awareness of non-functioning or failing heating units and stated that he had reported these concerns to corporate supervisors, but replacement equipment had not yet been ordered until recently. The Maintenance Director had been monitoring room temperatures for several weeks and confirmed that the facility's policy required temperatures to be maintained between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit unless otherwise requested by a resident. The facility's policy on temperature extremes, dated June 2019, was reviewed and confirmed this requirement. The deficiency was identified during a complaint investigation and was supported by direct observations, resident interviews, and temperature audit records.