Unsanitary and Poorly Maintained Shower Room with Inadequate Ventilation
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the [NAME] Unit shower room in a sanitary condition and good repair for all 37 residents on that unit. Observation showed the room was humid, the ceiling vent did not activate, and the baseboard radiator was dented and rusty. Behind the toilet where the wall met the floor, there was a buildup of black substance extending across approximately 15 floor tiles. Above the shower head, there were five to six black spots on the ceiling, and at the bottom of the same wall where it met the floor, there was a buildup of black substance in the grout lines and on the wall for approximately five tiles. Two other walls also had black, discolored tiles along the floor line, and the shower ceiling had an oval area of about eight to nine inches with black substance spots. A pervasive mildewy, damp odor was present in the room. The Regional Director of Operations confirmed the unsanitary conditions and stated uncertainty about which department was responsible for cleaning and maintaining the shower room. The Administrator and Maintenance Director confirmed the air vent was not working and that the shower room lacked adequate ventilation, contributing to a mildew issue; the Maintenance Director stated he could not fix issues if he was not informed they were broken, despite a prior maintenance log entry indicating the shower had been repaired earlier in the year. Housekeeping staff and the Housekeeping Supervisor reported that housekeeping is responsible for daily cleaning of resident rooms, common areas, and shower rooms, with monthly deep cleaning of showers, and that CNAs are expected to clean showers after resident use. A housekeeper assigned to the unit reported cleaning the shower room as best as possible but stated it did not come completely clean and believed maintenance had repaired the vent about six months earlier. Two CNAs reported they had informed administration that the shower room had black areas on the ceiling and walls and no ventilation. The DON confirmed all residents on the unit had the potential to use this shower room, and two residents reported awareness of mold in the shower, including one who stated she had reported it to an aide and another who stated that mold had been painted over in the past and remained an ongoing issue. Facility documents showed the shower room was included in routine housekeeping responsibilities, and the facility’s Homelike Environment policy required a clean, sanitary, and orderly environment.
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