complaint·October 11, 2023

Facility not maintained in good repair It was reported that the temperature inside of R1’s room is uncomfortable and that R1 can't use their portable air conditioning unit provided by the facility to cool down their room because the electrical outlets do not work. When LPA visited the facility on 8/11/2023 the facility was a comfortable temperature. LPA observed four thermostats that were set at temperatures of 76 to 77 degrees farenheit. LPA entered Resident 1's room where the electrical outlets were functioning and there was a portable AC unit that was plugged in and functioning. The room temperature measured 77 degrees farenheit according to LPA's hand-held temperature gauge. LPA reviewed an invoice from Run Electric dated 08/04/2023 that includes details about a repair that was completed for a breaker that was tripping and diagnosed as bad. The breaker was replaced, unit tested and performed satisfactorily per electrician’s notes. LPA also reviewed invoices for multiple visits for the repair and maintenance of the facility’s central air conditioning dating from 06/01/2022 through 05/31/2023. Staff interviews revealed that the breaker in R1’room has been replaced and the facility has been having issues with the central air conditioning and is in the process of fixing it. Administrator stated As soon as I was told the outlet in R1’s room was not working we called the electrician in. He replaced the breaker. Grimes (air conditioning repair company) came in and helped with how to set the thermostats and we set them all at 78 degrees, a comfortable temperature. All of the med techs have the parameters, They all know what is a reportable temperature. We had a problem with one AC and we traced it during temp checks and they were compliant but were running in the 80s. We were trying to figure it out. We got portables for every room that was having issues. We moved the other residents into rooms where the central air conditioning was working properly if their families were willing to move them, the others got portables. It was determined that the facility hired an electrician to complete the repair/replacement of the broken electrical outlets in R1’s room and supplied R1 with a portable air conditioning unit which cools their room sufficiently. In addition, the facility has taken and continues to take reasonable measures to repair the central air conditioning in the facility. Although the allegation may have happened is are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove that the alleged violations occurred, and the findings are UNSUBSTANTIATED. Exit interview conducted and a copy of the report was provided to Executive Director Diania Bingham.