Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control and Insect-Free Resident Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program and to ensure the environment remained free from flying insects, affecting two identified residents and with the potential to affect the entire census of 158 residents. On the specified survey date, gnats were observed flying in a hallway on one unit and in a resident’s room, where a can of insect repellent was lying on the bed. That resident reported that gnats were present "all over the place" and described the bathroom as having significant gnat presence, stating the door was kept shut to prevent gnats from entering the room. An inspection of the room did not reveal food or trash that might attract pests. In another resident’s room, surveyors observed nine fly traps hanging on the walls, each containing multiple flies and/or gnats. Housekeeping staff acknowledged seeing gnats on the traps and attributed the issue to the resident allegedly keeping food in drawers or in the room, although an inspection of the drawers at that time did not reveal any food. A urinal with a tan, crusty substance inside was noted on the dresser, and housekeeping staff stated that staff were supposed to pour out the urine and that gnats were attracted to it, indicating it had not been properly emptied or replaced. When surveyors requested pest control documentation, the facility initially produced only one pest control service report from several months earlier, despite a policy stating the facility would maintain an effective pest control program with facility-wide strategies. The Maintenance Director stated that pest control services were provided every three months and that the pest control company came when called for issues, but confirmed there had been no pest control visit between the two documented service dates, leaving a gap in regular pest control services during the period when gnats and flies were observed in resident areas.
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