F0925

E

Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control Program for Roaches and Mice

Norfolk, Virginia Survey Completed on 02-26-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Facility staff failed to maintain an effective pest control program to keep the environment free of pests and rodents, as evidenced by multiple observations of roaches and mice over an extended survey period. During observations from 2/3/26–2/6/26 and 2/9/26–2/11/26, surveyors saw a large brown roach climbing on a resident’s nightstand and a mouse running across a first-floor hallway from a biohazard room into a locked room. Additional observations on Unit 1B included a large brown roach lying on its back in the corridor and a small dark roach crawling on a toilet seat in a resident bathroom, which was witnessed by the ADON. Pest control logs and invoices showed ongoing pest activity throughout 2025 and into early 2026, with repeated entries for mice and roaches/ants across multiple months.

Resident interviews further demonstrated persistent pest issues in resident rooms. One cognitively intact resident reported that a mouse “lived” in his room and entered through the ventilation system, which he had discussed with the assistant administrator. Another cognitively intact resident stated that a mouse ran from under the door and hid behind a loose baseboard. A third cognitively intact resident reported that roaches had been present in the facility for quite a while, including an incident in December when a roach fell out of a food dome when he opened his meal, and also described a mouse entering his room under the door and a dead mouse later found in his heater motor by maintenance. This same resident reported seeing a roach crawling up his wall the previous day. A moderately impaired resident stated he had seen baby mice running around his room, and another cognitively intact resident reported a mouse on a glue pad in his room during resident council.

Staff and contractor interviews corroborated that pests and rodents were an ongoing problem. A night CNA acknowledged the presence of pests and rodents, stating that pest control came three times a week and that something could be heard running in the ceiling at night. The maintenance director confirmed hearing about rodents in the ceiling, placing traps there, and relying on pest control to review pest logs and treat problem areas; he also stated that residents were told not to keep food out and not to leave clothes on the floor. The pest control representative reported that the facility was on a three-times-per-week schedule, using traps, glue boards, and baiting in resident areas, and that pest sighting logs were used to identify treatment locations. Despite the facility’s written policy stating it would maintain an effective pest control program to eradicate and contain common household pests and rodents, the documented observations, resident reports, and pest control logs showed continued presence of roaches and mice in resident rooms and common areas during the survey period.