Failure to Maintain Resident Bathroom Sink in Safe, Functional Condition
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident’s bathroom sink in a safe, functional condition. During observation, the surveyor noted that the hot water knob on the resident’s sink appeared loose, and when the surveyor attempted to turn on the hot water, the knob fell off onto the floor. The resident, who was sitting up in her wheelchair and cognitively intact, stated that the sink had been broken since her admission and that she could only get warm water if she “messed with it.” She reported that it was annoying, believed it should have been fixed by then, and indicated that her previous roommate had also said it was broken before, though she did not know for how long. The resident stated she did not recall maintenance coming in to fix it and that CNAs were aware the sink was broken. The resident’s diagnoses included disorder of the muscles, difficulty walking, reduced mobility, osteoporosis, an open abdominal wall wound, thrombocytopenia, PVD, hypothyroidism, and hypertension. Later observation with the Maintenance Director showed that the entire hot water knob moved when he attempted to turn on the water, and the surveyor was able to lift the knob completely off the hot water side. The Maintenance Director acknowledged that he had previously glued the knob and that it should not come off, stating he would need to replace it and that he believed a whole new sink might be required, for which he needed approvals. The Administrator stated that the knob on a resident’s sink should be intact so it functions properly, reported she did not know the sink was broken, and acknowledged that the sink should be in proper working order. The facility’s Preventative Maintenance & Inspections Policy required a preventative maintenance program to keep equipment in good repair through systematic inspection, detection, and correction of failures, and stated that replacement or repair of furnishings and equipment should be completed as soon as possible.
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