Unclean Commode Found in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that a commode in the room of a resident with severe cognitive impairment had a brown substance on the seat and arm, which was identified by an LPN as likely being stool. The commode remained uncleaned for at least one hour after the initial observation, despite the resident's need for assistance with toileting and the facility's policy requiring resident care equipment to be kept clean and sanitary to prevent the spread of disease-causing organisms. Interviews with staff confirmed that the commode should have been cleaned after use, and both the LPN and the DON acknowledged that the presence of the brown substance indicated the commode was not properly cleaned. The facility's policy, revised 7/1/25, specifically states that a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment must be maintained, including the cleanliness of resident care equipment used for activities of daily living.