| 60 |
GUARDIAN ELDER CARE AT WHEELING |
515002 |
20 HOMESTEAD AVENUE |
WHEELING |
WV |
26003 |
2019-08-06 |
584 |
E |
0 |
1 |
WJ7O11 |
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, resident interview, and staff interview, the facility failed to ensure comfortable and safe temperature levels for residents. The facility did not ensure the temperature range of 71 to 81 degrees Fahrenheit was maintained in the resident's Day/Dining Rooms. Three (3) Day/Dining Rooms tested higher than 81 degrees while being used by residents. The facility also failed to ensure a Broda Chair was not damaged and a wall in a resident's room was in good repair. This practice had the potential to affect more than a limited number of residents. Resident identifiers: #62, #82, #21, #48, #110, & #115. Room identifiers: 100 Hall Day/Dining Room, 500 Hall Day/Dining Room, 600 Hall Day/Dining Room, 700 Hall Day/Dining Room, and the 800 Hall Day/Dining Room. Facility census: 140. Findings included: a) Temperature Observations An observation during the initial tour of the facility, on 07/29/19 at 11:15 AM, revealed the 100 Hall Day/Dining Room, 500 Hall Day/Dining Room, 600 Hall Day/Dining Room, 700 Hall Day/Dining Room, and 800 Hall Day/Dining Rooms all felt hot. There were no fans and the air conditioning units were only blowing warm air. These rooms are used as the main dining rooms for each hallway in the facility. An observation of the 600 Hall Day/Dining Room, on 07/29/19 at 12:55 PM, revealed the room felt hot. Resident #62 was attempting to eat her lunch and was visibly sweating. A room thermometer affixed to the wall read 83 Degrees Fahrenheit. No staff were present. There were no fans and the air conditioning units were only blowing warm air. An observation of the 800 Hall Day/Dining Room, on 07/29/19 at 1:15 PM, revealed Nurse Aide (NA) #100 was assisting two (2) residents with their lunch. The room felt hot. There were no fans and the air conditioning units were only blowing warm air. An observation of the 700 Hall Day/Dining Room, on 07/29/19 at 2:15 PM, revealed a room thermometer affixed to the wall read 82 Degrees Fahrenheit. Two residents were in the room at the time of the observation. There were no fans and the air conditioning units were only blowing warm air. b) Temperature Interviews/Record Review An interview with Resident #82, on 07/29/19 at 11:41 PM, revealed the day room where we eat here on wing one is hot and the air conditioner has been out for a while. The Resident revealed on 07/28/19 the room got as hot as 84 degree Fahrenheit and that it was too hot to eat in there. An additional interview with Resident #82, on 07/29/19 at 3:00 PM, revealed, I eat in the dining room because there is nowhere else to eat. I really don't like to eat in my room. An interview with Resident #21, on 07/29/19 at 12:10 PM, revealed the dining room is so hot but there is nowhere else to eat. An additional interview with Resident #21, on 07/29/19 03:00 PM, revealed I eat in the dining room because there is nowhere else to eat. I have tried to eat at all the other dining rooms in the other wings but they are just as hot if not hotter. A family interview with Resident #48's husband, on 07/29/19 at 12:44 PM, revealed, the Day/Dining Room on Wing 100 had no air conditioning. He stated the air conditioning had not been working for a while. Resident #48's husband stated, they have the unit on the wall blowing as a fan from outside but it has only made the rooms hotter especially on the hottest days. Resident #48's husband stated, I bought a room thermometer and brought it to the facility to watch how hot it gets in the room. The room temperature has been as hot as 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Resident #48's husband stated I have addressed the air conditioning issue with the facility multiple times but the problem has yet to be fixed. An interview with Resident #62, on 07/29/19 at 1:00 PM, revealed the dining room is always hot. The Resident asked can't you see me sweating? The Resident stated she had complained to multiple staff members about the temperature but nobody had addressed her complaints. The Resident stated the only other place she can eat is in her room and she does not want to do that. An interview with NA #100, on 07/29/19 at 1:20 PM, revealed the Day/Dining Rooms have been hot for months. The NA stated it makes it hard to do my job and I know the residents hate it. The NA stated the rooms have been hot all summer. The NA stated the rooms have never been closed when she works. An interview with Registered Nurse (RN) #5, on 07/29/19 at 1:30 PM, revealed the facility has been too hot the past few months. The RN stated the administration ignores the hot temperatures while they sit in their air conditioning downstairs. The RN stated multiple residents eat in the Day/Dining Rooms on each unit daily with no air conditioning or fans. The RN stated she had never seen the Day/Dining Rooms closed. The RN stated the residents have no other places to eat their meals besides in their rooms which is no kind of life. An interview with the Maintenance Director in the 800 Hall Day/Dining Room, on 07/29/19 at 1:45 PM, revealed the facility addressed the hot Day/Dining Rooms in (MONTH) 2019. The Maintenance Director stated the air conditioning units either do not work or cannot cool the Day/Dining Rooms adequately during the summer. The Maintenance Director stated the resolution set by the Administrator and himself was to close the Day/Dining Rooms when the temperature went above 81 degrees Fahrenheit. The Maintenance Director stated the facility had ordered new portable air conditioner units but they had to be utilized in other areas of the facility. The Maintenance Director verified the room felt hot and stated no residents should be in here until we get the permanent air conditioners installed. The Maintenance Director stated I thought they were closing these rooms on days like today. The Maintenance Director stated some of the rooms have wall thermometers and some do not. The Maintenance Director stated the facility bought a thermometer gun recently to test temperatures daily but is unsure who is checking them. Further interview with the Maintenance Director, on 07/29/19 at 2:15 PM, revealed he found the thermometer gun and would check the temperatures in the Day/Dining Rooms. The following Day/Dining Room temperatures were recorded at 2:15 PM on 07/29/19 with the facility's thermometer gun: 600 Hall Day/Dining room [ROOM NUMBER].0 800 Hall Day/Dining room [ROOM NUMBER].5 The Maintenance Director verified on 07/29/19 at 2:20 PM the wall thermometer in the 600 Hall Day/Dining room read 83 Degrees Fahrenheit. An interview with the Administrator, on 07/29/19 at 3:00 PM, revealed he stated I am not confirming anything or divulging any information about the temperatures and what we have in place. An interview with the Corporate Consultant (CC) #154, on 07/29/19 at 3:15 PM, revealed she would check into the temperature situation and report back. Further interview with the Administrator, on 07/29/19 at 3:30 PM, revealed the facility had addressed the hot temperatures and put a plan in place on 06/01/19. The Administrator provided the written plan, dated 06/01/19, that stated hot temperatures identified in several areas throughout the facility which included Morning/evening temperature checks and documented to monitor ambient conditions. A review of the temperature logs revealed they were only recorded on 07/08/19 and 07/09/19. The log stated to call the Administrator if temperatures are above 82 Degrees. The temperatures recorded on those days were: 100 Hall-12:30 PM 83.5 Degrees Fahrenheit 300 Hall-12:30 PM 82 Degrees Fahrenheit 600 Hall-12:30 PM 82 Degrees Fahrenheit 700 Hall-12:30 PM 82.5 Degrees Fahrenheit The Administrator stated he had no other temperature logs from 06/01/19 to 07/29/19. The Administrator stated he could not provide any evidence the high temperatures recorded on the logs were addressed. The Administrator stated he could not provide any further documentation the facility had protected the residents from the high temperatures in the facility since 06/01/19. An interview with the CC #154, on 08/05/19 at 12:30 PM, revealed the facility had no written policy for room temperatures. The CC stated we follow life safety code and the regulation of keeping temperatures between 71 and 81 degrees Fahrenheit. |
2020-09-01 |