Failure to Repair Resident Room Sliding Screen Door Lock
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment for one resident when the sliding screen door in the resident's room would not latch or lock. The resident had been admitted with type 2 diabetes mellitus, dementia, and an anxiety disorder, and an MDS assessment indicated no cognitive impairment and a need for staff assistance with bathing, dressing, oral care, toileting, and personal hygiene. The resident's family member reported to an unidentified nurse that the sliding screen door handle in the resident's room would not latch and lock, and the nurse stated they would write a maintenance request in the Maintenance Log at the nurses' station. Subsequent observation showed that the sliding screen door to the outside patio, which provided access to the back of the facility, still would not latch closed and the lock/unlock tab would not slide up or down. Review of the Maintenance Log revealed an entry for this resident's room noting that the screen door was not locking, with no completion date documented, indicating the issue had not been fixed or addressed. The Maintenance Assistant confirmed that staff are required to document needed repairs in the Maintenance Log and that maintenance staff sign and date when issues are resolved, and also confirmed that the resident's sliding screen door required a new latch. The facility's maintenance policy stated that the maintenance department is responsible for maintaining the building, grounds, and equipment in a safe and operable manner at all times.
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