F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
E

Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Resident Areas and Medication Carts

Aperion Care Arbors Michigan CityMichigan City, Indiana Survey Completed on 12-09-2025

Summary

The facility failed to keep resident rooms, bathrooms, and common care areas clean and in good repair across Units 100, 200, and 300. During an environmental tour with the Maintenance Director and Housekeeping Supervisor, surveyors observed marred and gouged walls and door frames, dirty and dusty ceiling vents, dirty walls and windows, cobwebs, stained over-bed tables and floor mats, warped and peeling floor tile, missing paper towel dispenser covers, rusted and exposed toilet bolts, stained toilets, broken closet hardware exposing a sharp screw, a cracked and missing outlet cover, and other damaged or dirty surfaces in multiple resident rooms and bathrooms. Several rooms were shared by two or more residents, and the observations included bathrooms used by multiple residents. Specific findings included marred bathroom walls and dirty vents in Unit 100 rooms, dirty room walls and over-bed tables, rusty and uncovered toilet bolts, and a broken closet door hinge exposing a sharp screw. In Unit 200, surveyors observed corrosion around a faucet, cobwebs by a window, missing paper towel holder covers, exposed toilet bolts, missing drain plugs, warped floor tile, rust stains inside toilet bowls, a stained floor mat, marred bathroom and closet doors, and a toilet seat that did not completely cover the toilet. In Unit 300, surveyors observed warped and peeling bathroom floor tile, buckled bathroom door panels, marred walls and doors, a dried brown substance on a wall, a dirty over-bed table with a missing piece, brown stains inside toilet bowls, and a cracked outlet cover with missing pieces. Medication storage observations also identified broken medication cart drawers on multiple units. On Unit 300 Team 1 and Team 2 medication carts, on the 300/400 Unit Medication Cart 2, on 200 Unit Medication Cart 2, and on 100 Unit Medication Cart 1, surveyors observed cut-out broken areas on the top lip of the second drawer. On one cart, the drawer could still be pulled out slightly even when locked, allowing access to medication cards. Staff interviewed during the observation were unsure how long the damage had been present, and the DON stated the broken drawers should have been reported. A facility policy stated that lockable medication carts, cabinets, and drawers are to be acquired and maintained for proper medication storage, preparation, and administration, and that equipment deficiencies are to be reported to the DON.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0921 citations
Unsanitary bathroom conditions with unresolved maintenance issues
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Unsanitary bathroom conditions were observed in 7 rooms, with black and dark filmy growth on ceilings, walls, doors, and door frames, along with warm, musty, foul-smelling conditions. Follow-up checks showed the growth and odors remained, and prior work orders documented mold, ventilation, and A/C concerns without completion dates recorded.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room
D
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Peeling Wallpaper Left Unrepaired in Resident Room: A resident with severe cognitive impairment and diagnoses including Alzheimer's dementia, CKD, HTN, and depression was observed in a room where wallpaper next to the bed was loose and peeling away from the wall. A NA said the damage had been present for months and the resident had been pulling at it, while an LPN said they were not aware of the issue. The maintenance director said the wallpaper needed repair, but no maintenance requests were found for the room.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unclean hallways and inconsistent room cleaning
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

A facility failed to keep 4 hallways clean and comfortable, with stained carpets, food debris, urine odor, and cluttered resident rooms observed. Residents reported rooms were not cleaned routinely, one said a spill was left sticky after being wiped but not mopped, and a grievance showed food spills remained for days before cleaning. Staff said housekeeping could not always complete daily room cleaning and that staffing was limited.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Sewer Line and Sanitary Conditions
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain the sewer line and sanitary environment resulted in raw sewage backing up through toilets and shower drains into resident rooms and hallways, with wastewater also leaking into an office area. Residents reported repeated clogs, the building water supply was shut off for hours, and staff confirmed corroded piping, flushed wipes, and that no medical or clinical assessments were completed after residents were exposed to sewage and fumes.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Pest activity and unsanitary conditions observed in resident areas
E
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Pest activity and unsanitary conditions were observed in resident areas and near the garbage area. A resident reported a spider on her curtain and a fly in her room, another resident reported flies during meals, and a family member reported roaches, moldy walls, and chipped paint in a resident room. Staff also observed dead insects near the kitchen exit, leaking waste at the garbage compactor, uncovered dumpsters, and unused equipment stored outdoors on muddy ground.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Maintain Safe Common-Area Temperatures
F
F0921 F921: Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Short Summary

Failure to maintain comfortable temperatures in common areas: surveyors found the dining rooms, hallway, lobby, and kitchen at or above 81 F, with the kitchen reaching 86 F while outdoor heat index conditions were very high. Staff reported the chiller had failed the prior year, the roof unit serving the kitchen and dining room had gone out the prior week, and portable AC units were being used in hallways and dining areas; a resident said bingo was too hot and humid and hard to breathe.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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