F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
D

Failure to Maintain Safe and Homelike Resident Rooms and Furnishings

Heritage OaksSaint Simons Island, Georgia Survey Completed on 04-16-2026

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment in multiple resident rooms, as required by its own preventive maintenance policy. The policy states that preventive maintenance schedules are to be developed and implemented to ensure the building and equipment are maintained in a safe and operable manner. Despite this, surveyors observed in one room that the bed footboard on the patient side had a broken area with exposed particles for an extended period. The resident in that room reported that maintenance was aware of the issue and that the footboard had been broken for four months. The Maintenance Supervisor later confirmed the presence of a sharp exposed particle on the footboard and stated he could not replace the bed due to a lack of another electric bed, and although he reported ordering a replacement part, he had no receipt and was unsure how long the footboard had been broken. Additional environmental deficiencies were identified in several other rooms. One room had a cracked window with tape placed over the cracked areas on both the top and bottom panes, and the window header was exposed. The Maintenance Supervisor stated that rocks from landscaping had cracked the window and that tape was applied to keep the crack from spreading, but he admitted the damage had never been entered into the TELS electronic maintenance system and called this an oversight. Another room had a hole in the wall and a baseboard coming off the wall under the window next to one of the beds; these conditions were observed on multiple days. The Maintenance Supervisor confirmed the hole and loose baseboard, explained that a bed had run into the wall, and reported he was not aware of the damage. Further observations showed that another room had stained and discolored ceiling tiles and tracking, including dark black and brown stains above the beds and rusty brown stains on the ceiling tracking, as well as a brown stain on the floor extending from the dresser under the window to the closet. The Maintenance Director confirmed these stains and acknowledged the ceiling tiles needed to be replaced, stating he did not have a routine plan to replace ceiling tiles or tracking and was not aware of the condition, describing it as an oversight. In yet another room, surveyors observed a loose baseboard between the exterior door and bathroom entrance, a missing bathroom door, and a brown rusty stain along the bathroom door jamb on repeated visits. The Maintenance Director confirmed the loose baseboard, rusty stain, and missing bathroom door, explaining the door had been removed because the resident could not access the bathroom and that the room was set up for two residents. He stated he did not have a scheduled plan to routinely check rooms and that repairs were addressed only when reported through the TELS system. The DON and Administrator both reported that all staff and leaders are responsible for entering repair needs into TELS and that leaders are to evaluate the environment daily, but the observed conditions showed that multiple issues had not been identified or entered into the system. These deficiencies increase the risk of infection and injury and do not support a safe, clean, and homelike environment.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

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See other F0584 citations
Unclean and Poorly Maintained Resident Rooms
D
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

Unclean and Poorly Maintained Resident Rooms: Two residents were affected by environmental issues in their rooms. One resident’s windowpane had a crack extending the length of the window for months, and staff gave conflicting statements about awareness of the damage. Another resident reported housekeeping was not sweeping or mopping, and trash and a liquid spill remained on the floor between the beds across multiple observations. Resident council notes also documented repeated housekeeping concerns about room cleanliness.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Bathroom Sink Faucet Sprayed Water Onto Floor
D
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

Bathroom Sink Faucet Sprayed Water Onto Floor: A resident with RA, PTSD, and recurrent MDD had a bathroom sink faucet that sprayed water outward and onto the floor instead of downward. The resident said the problem had been present for months and had been reported to CNAs, and a CNA confirmed it had been reported to the charge nurse. Observation and interview with the MD confirmed the faucet issue and that a work order had been received but not repaired because other repairs were prioritized.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Broda Chair Not Kept in Good Repair
D
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

A resident with moderate cognitive impairment and dependence for ADLs was observed using a broda chair with multiple cracked cushions, exposed foam, and stuffing visible in the headrest and side areas. Staff said broken equipment should be reported for repair or replacement, but the chair remained in use and hospice had not yet been notified; the DON stated equipment was expected to stay in good repair and that the cracked cushions could not be cleaned appropriately.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Unsafe and Unclean Facility Environment
E
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

Unsafe and Unclean Facility Environment: Surveyors observed multiple environmental deficiencies, including an unlocked maintenance storage room with stacked AC units, dirty vents, black substance on windowsills, walls, doors, handrails, and equipment, missing or broken light covers, holes in walls, and debris in hallways and the dining room. Staff interviews showed housekeeping cleaned vents and AC units, but filters were not changed and documentation practices were inconsistent, while the facility policy required a safe, clean, comfortable, and homelike environment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Widespread Odors and Environmental Disrepair in Resident Care Areas
E
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

Surveyors found that the facility failed to maintain a safe, clean, and homelike environment, with strong, persistent urine and feces odors noted throughout multiple halls and confirmed by staff. On two nursing units, hallways and resident rooms contained torn flooring, food debris, broken blinds, dirty and leaking toilets and sinks, rusted and corroded fixtures, missing outlet covers with oxygen concentrators plugged in, exposed light sockets, unmade and visibly soiled beds, and black, mold-like substances on walls and around toilet bases. Bathrooms had missing ceiling tiles, cracked door facings with brown stains, used briefs and torn toilet paper on floors, and toilets with brown or rust-like buildup. Outside, the patio and fencing area had broken and rotted railings, exposed rusted nails, fallen palm fronds, and overgrown vegetation, and the Administrator acknowledged the area was not safe for residents. Housekeeping and maintenance staff described daily cleaning and a work-order process, but the Maintenance Director reported being unaware of many of the observed issues, and the DON confirmed there was no specific environmental cleaning policy despite job descriptions and a general policy requiring a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Missing Resident Cell Phone Not Addressed
D
F0584 F584: Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Short Summary

A resident’s cell phone went missing and was not found or replaced, despite staff awareness and documentation that the resident’s personal effects included a phone with charger. The grievance record addressed missing clothing items but did not address the phone, and both the LPN/Resident Care Manager and Administrator stated the issue did not meet expectations.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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