Resident Rooms Maintained Below Required Temperature Range
Summary
The facility failed to ensure resident rooms were kept at comfortable and safe temperature levels within the regulatory recommended range of 71 degrees to 81 degrees. Resident #24, admitted in January 2024 with diagnoses including dementia, psychotic disturbance, mood disturbance, and anxiety, had moderately impaired cognition on the annual MDS, was independent with self-care, and used a rolling walker with supervision. The care plan dated 1/8/26 did not identify any concerns related to the room being cold, although the resident reported that the room was cold most days and not comfortable without multiple layers of clothing and extra blankets. Observations in Resident #24's room showed temperatures below the required range at multiple points in the room. On 1/7/26, the temperature near the window was 65.8 degrees F, at the foot of the bed was 67.8 degrees F, and at the doorway with the door closed was 69 degrees F, while a thermometer placed high on the wardrobe near the ceiling read 71 degrees F. The baseboard heater was cold to the touch, and the resident was observed dressed in a turtleneck sweater and covered with a blanket. On 1/8/26, the room thermometer read 69 degrees F, and the resident stated he/she was moving slowly because it was too cold to change clothes. The Director of Maintenance stated he was aware of heat discrepancies in resident rooms and that temperatures were being checked, but he did not document temperatures unless they were below 70 degrees and had no documentation because none were below 70 degrees. He also stated there was one thermostat for the building's boiler hot water baseboard system, a secondary forced hot air source for the hallway, and that resident room doors were required to remain open for safety so hallway heat would enter the rooms. On 1/13/26, temperatures in six resident rooms on the west nursing wing were observed below 70 degrees when thermometers were placed at waist level where residents were located, including Resident #24's room at 66 degrees F, and residents in those rooms were observed with additional blankets and layered clothing.
Penalty
Resources
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