Complaint Investigation Report

Allegation: Licensee does not ensure that staff follow proper infection control practices. It is alleged that facility staff do a variety of tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry, and after staff clean things like the bathrooms/toilets, showers, and laundry they go into the kitchen and prepare food without washing their hands or wearing gloves. According to information obtained, staff grab raw food with unwashed and ungloved hands, and then grab other food to cook without washing their hands or putting gloves. Cross contamination of food borne illness or infection is of concern. The complaint also alleges that staff wear open-toed shoes and no aprons while cooking in the kitchen. A total of 12 residents were interviewed. One (1) out of 12 residents stated that they have seen staff handle food without washing their hands. All other residents stated staff wash their hands when handling and preparing food.

Staff interviewed denied the allegation. Per staff interviews, staff are responsible for performing laundry duties, cleaning duties and cooking, and always wash their hands when handling/preparing food in the kitchen. Staff have a large hand sanitizer bottle in the kitchen that is used by staff in the kitchen and through common areas. Hand sanitizer is sprayed on the resident's hands prior to being served all meals. According to staff, there was an incident recently, in which a resident asked staff for a clean fork because there was a piece of cilantro on the plastic fork. The resident was given another fork with ungloved hands and the resident did not like that. Staff stated they always wash their hands after handling other things aside from food. Staff stated they are allowed to wear sandals if needed and sometimes there are staff that wear open toed sandals when performing cleaning tasks, but always wear proper shoes when cooking in the kitchen. There is not enough evidence to support the allegation.

Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is U n substantiated .

Exit interview conducted with Administrator Carolee Hazard. A copy of the report was issued.