Failure to Maintain Adequately Warm Shower Water Temperatures in East Hall
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure adequately warm shower water temperatures in the East Hall shower room, resulting in residents not receiving safe, comfortable, and homelike bathing conditions. Multiple residents who required staff assistance for showers reported that the shower water was too cold, leading some to avoid showers and instead receive bed baths or wash at the sink. One resident with congestive heart failure, weakness, and parkinsonism stated he rarely used the shower because the water was too cold and instead received bed baths. Another resident with Parkinson’s disease, asthma, and depression reported that the shower water was chilly but bearable and acknowledged refusing showers in the past due to cold water. A resident with congestive heart failure, anxiety, and atrial fibrillation described the East Hall shower room as so cold she felt like she had icicles coming off her body and avoided showers, receiving bed baths instead. A closed record review for a resident with COPD, anxiety, Type II diabetes mellitus, and restless legs showed documentation that the shower water was too cold, leading the resident to wash up at the sink rather than shower. Staff interviews with CNAs and an LPN confirmed that residents complained about cold water in the East Hall shower room and that one shower stall was cold while the other was only barely warm. Direct observation with the Maintenance Director showed shower stall temperatures of 83°F and 88°F after several minutes of running, and the sink reaching only 90°F, all below the stated minimum requirement of 105°F and the facility’s intended range of approximately 109°F to 115°F. Review of water temperature logs revealed that required weekly monitoring for the East Hall shower room was not consistently performed, with no temperatures logged for several weeks and only two recorded readings showing compliant temperatures shortly before the survey. The Maintenance Director verified the low temperatures, acknowledged the lack of recorded monitoring during the specified periods, and confirmed that the water temperatures did not meet the minimum requirement.
Penalty
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