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

Unsanitary, Leaking Toilets and Poor Bathroom Maintenance for Multiple Residents

Sterling Care BethesdaBethesda, Maryland Survey Completed on 02-05-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a functional, sanitary, and comfortable bathroom environment for five residents whose rooms had toilets with rust, black mildew-like buildup, missing caulk/sealant, instability, and active water leakage. Facility policies on Resident/Patient Room Cleaning and Safe and Homelike Environment required regular cleaning and disinfection of restrooms, including toilets and surrounding areas, and provision of housekeeping and maintenance services as necessary to maintain a sanitary, orderly, and comfortable environment. Despite these policies, surveyors observed that the toilets in the rooms of five residents had a rust stain approximately five inches wide and seven inches long, black discoloration around the toilet seal resembling mildew, missing caulk/sealant, and unsteady commodes that shifted side to side, with water leaking from the base. The affected residents had multiple medical diagnoses and varying levels of cognitive function and dependence on staff for ADLs, including toileting. One resident had Type II diabetes, dysphagia, hyperlipidemia, depression, hypertension, GERD, and frequent bowel and bladder incontinence, and was cognitively intact and able to report that the toilet rust stain had been present for a while, that housekeeping cleaned daily but the stains remained, that the toilet moved and leaked where the caulking was missing, and that no one should live with a dirty bathroom. Another resident with dementia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, GERD, major depressive disorder, dysphagia, and frequent incontinence, who used a walker and went to the bathroom independently, reported that the toilet leaked and expressed concern about slipping and falling, though they did not know how long the leakage had been occurring. Other residents involved had conditions such as dementia, chronic kidney disease, hemiplegia, aphasia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, COPD, and failure to thrive, and were dependent on staff for toileting and transfers, yet their toilets were also found with rust, mildew-like buildup, missing caulk, and leakage. Staff interviews revealed inactions and incomplete follow-through that contributed to the ongoing unsanitary and nonfunctional bathroom conditions. A housekeeper with 16 years of experience stated they clean the bathroom, including the toilet bowl and the area behind the toilet, and are expected to report room problems to a supervisor so a work order can be placed, but acknowledged they did not see the rust stain behind the toilet, could not remove a stain, and simply left it, planning only to inform the supervisor if it happened again. The Environmental Services Manager stated that rooms are expected to be cleaned daily and that only about 10% of rooms receive a complete daily check, and reported having seen caulk/sealant issues but not rust stains. The Maintenance Supervisor, in the role for two months, stated they noticed the rust stain two to three weeks earlier, notified housekeeping to clean again, and asked a technician to complete caulking, but did not perform any follow-up to ensure the work was completed. These actions and omissions allowed the rust, mildew-like buildup, missing caulk, toilet instability, and water leakage to persist in resident bathrooms in violation of facility policies and regulatory expectations for a safe, clean, and comfortable environment.

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

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0921 citations
Loud Violent TV Programming in Secured Unit Dining Area
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 large-screen TV in the secured unit dining room was playing a loud, violent movie during meals, with screaming, gunfire, crying, and dark scenes visible to residents seated nearby. Two residents with dementia-related cognitive impairment and behavioral issues were directly affected; one became angry and complained the TV was too loud and too dark, while another repeatedly turned off the lights and struck out at an NA when blocked. An LPN, RN, AD, and DON stated the programming was not appropriate for residents with dementia and could increase anxiety or agitation.

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.
Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor
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

Dirty G-tube Pump and Room Floor: A resident with Parkinson’s disease, DM, and impaired cognition was observed sleeping in bed while connected to a turned-off G-tube pump that had visible dried milk residue, and the room floor also had visible dried milk residue. A CNA confirmed the pump and floor were dirty, and an LVN stated food or milk drippings should be cleaned right away. RN review showed the care plan called for a safe environment with a floor free from spills and clutter, and the facility did not follow its cleaning and disinfection policy.

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.
Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment
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

Unsafe and Poorly Maintained Environment: A hole in the ceiling on Hall 100, a detached baseboard in a shower room on Hall 300, dim lighting in the secure unit dining room, and a leaking kitchen ceiling were observed in the LTC facility. Staff and management interviews showed the issues were known or reported inconsistently, and maintenance logs did not document several of the problems. The kitchen leak was being collected in a pot near the food prep area, and the DM stated the kitchen leaked when it rained.

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.
Unsafe and Nonfunctional Bathroom Fixtures
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

Unsafe and nonfunctional bathroom fixtures were observed on two nursing units and in one resident room. A resident reported a broken faucet, and staff observed a replacement knob that wiggled and did not work properly. In one shower room, the hot and cold indicators were reversed, and in another shower room, the drain cover was missing.

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.
Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment
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

Unsafe and Unclean Unit Environment: The 200 unit had marred walls, chipped door trim, a large hole in a resident room wall, missing drywall near the offices, and dirt buildup on baseboards, floors, and around the elevator. The dining room and elevator area also had debris buildup, and the elevator door frame wrap was hanging off on both sides. An HSKP staff member stated the facility was down a housekeeper and floors should be cleaned daily.

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.
Unsafe Resident Room Conditions Due to Nonfunctional A/C and Biological Growth
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

Unsafe resident room conditions were identified when multiple rooms had nonfunctional A/C units, temperatures above 81 degrees, and unsealed openings around replacement units. A resident with paraplegia, polyneuropathy, chronic pain, and TBI reported living in a room without working A/C for weeks, while staff said several rooms had been hot for months and administration knew about the issue. Surveyors also observed biological growth inside one A/C unit and on a ceiling tile above a sink in a room occupied by a resident with respiratory concerns.

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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