Failure to Maintain Acceptable Hot Water Temperatures for Resident Bathing
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment by not maintaining acceptable hot water temperatures for bathing in multiple resident rooms. Review of the facility’s "Homelike Environment" policy dated 10/7/25 showed the facility’s obligation to provide such an environment. During a tour with the Maintenance Director, surveyors measured water temperatures at resident room sinks and found them to be significantly below acceptable levels for bathing: 60°F for Resident R1, 59°F for Resident R2, 77°F for Resident R3, 55°F for Resident R4, 73°F for Resident R5, and 79°F for Resident R6. Resident interviews confirmed ongoing issues with water temperature. One resident stated the water was very cold and reported it had been that way for six months, while another described the water as ice-cold and not suitable even for washing a dog. During observation, a resident’s sink was seen running with no staff present, and a nurse aide reported that staff sometimes had to let the water run for up to 30 minutes to get it warm enough for bathing. Another nurse aide stated that staff sometimes used hallway sinks instead of resident room sinks because the hallway sinks, being used more often, tended to have warmer water. The Maintenance Director confirmed that the facility failed to maintain acceptable water temperatures for bathing for six of seven sampled residents.
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