F0584

E

Failure to Maintain Resident Hot Water Temperatures Within Acceptable Range

Lorain, Ohio Survey Completed on 03-04-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain resident hot water temperatures within an acceptable range to promote comfort in resident rooms on the 100 hallway. During an observation, surveyors measured a resident bathroom sink temperature at 104°F using the facility’s digital thermometer, which the Regional Director of Asset Management confirmed was not within the facility’s desired range of 110–120°F. A resident reported that the water in her bathroom sink had been cold for at least a month, though at the time of interview she noted it was then a little warm. The facility’s census was 63, and 10 residents on the 100 hallway were identified as potentially affected.

Review of water temperature logs for multiple rooms on the 100 hall over a period from a specified date through February 2026 showed repeated low readings, including temperatures such as 85°F, 90°F, 91°F, 92°F, 95°F, 97°F, 99°F, 100°F, and 101°F, with no documented evidence of any adjustments to the water temperature or follow-up checks. The President of Asset Management stated that the former maintenance director had quit about one week prior and acknowledged that the water temperatures recorded for the 100 hall were not within an acceptable range and that the low temperatures could have been remedied by adjusting the mixing valve. The facility’s “Safe Water Temperatures” policy required staff to report water that was too hot or too cold and stated that water temperatures would not exceed 120°F and would be checked weekly by maintenance, but it did not define a lower temperature limit.