F0689

D

Hazardous Aerosol Products Left in Cognitively Impaired Resident’s Room

Irving, Texas Survey Completed on 03-31-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency in maintaining a resident environment free from accident hazards when a cognitively impaired resident had access to hazardous aerosol products in his room. Record review showed that the resident was an [AGE]-year-old male with a diagnosis of dementia, confirmed on the MDS assessment dated 03/10/26, which documented a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 7, indicating severe cognitive impairment. During an observation on 03/31/26 at 10:45 a.m., the resident was seen sitting in his wheelchair with a can of disinfectant spray and a bottle of hand sanitizer spray on the chest of drawers in his room.

In interviews conducted the same day, multiple staff members, including a Med Tech, an LVN, and the DON, stated that disinfectant and aerosol sprays should not be kept in residents' rooms. They acknowledged that such items are considered hazardous, particularly for confused or cognitively impaired residents, and that all staff are responsible for checking rooms and removing these items during rounds. Staff described that confused residents could spray or ingest the products, and that inhalation or exposure could cause choking, allergic reactions, or poisoning, especially in residents with respiratory issues. Despite this understanding and stated responsibility, the hazardous sprays remained in the resident’s room at the time of the surveyor’s observation.