HENDERSON, NV-TLC CARE CENTER

Based on observation, interview and document review, the facility failed to ensure it stored, prepared, distributed, and served food in a sanitary manner as evidenced by an infestation of German cockroaches, poor kitchen sanitation and poor equipment and facility maintenance. The failure of the facility to maintain the kitchen in a clean and sanitary manner had the potential to impact 179 residents who received meals from the kitchen.

Findings include: An infestation of German cockroaches was observed throughout the kitchen. Live cockroaches were observed under the steam table, under equipment on the cook’s line, covering tiles on the cook’s line, in the ice machine, in the dishwash area and in the janitor’s closet.
Dead cockroaches were observed under the steam table, cook’s line, prep tables, shelving in the dry storage, in a deli refrigerator, on top of the dishwasher, at the door of the walk-in freezer and under the sink of the 100 hall nourishment room.Food was not protected based on observation of cockroaches on prep tables, around prepared food, within refrigeration units and on equipment. There was spillage of food products on other food containers/shelving in dry storage.
The following food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces of equipment were soiled with food debris and grease: inside of refrigeration units in the kitchen and nourishment rooms, external and internal components of the cook’s line equipment, ventilation hoods, food storage bins, clean ware, on top of the dishwasher, transport carts, prep tables and the inside of cabinets in nourishment rooms.

The Dietary Manager, EVS Director and Administrator could not explain why the pest control problem and sanitation in the kitchen had fallen out of compliance.
The kitchen was ordered to cease operations on 06/04/2021 after dinner service until further notice. 

On 06/04/2021, Health Facility Investigators arrived at the facility at 1:00 PM to assist with the complaint investigations. The Administrator stepped on several live roaches during the inspection. Dried, loose, and liquefied food debris and/or spillage was observed in multiple open areas on the floors throughout the kitchen and storage areas. Dry storage racks were coated with cooking oils, food additives and supplement spillage which had transformed into grease and grime. Loose sugar was spilled over multiple bins and on the floor. The fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) was falling off the walls in the dish room. A large area of dry wall was missing from a lower corner behind the dish machine. Tiled areas displayed a multitude of cracks and crevices where caulking or grout was missing.

The following Work Order Requests were submitted by the dietary aides:
03/30/2021: Roaches in ice machine and found frozen in an ice cube.

The Environmental Services Director indicated being responsible for Plant Operations, Maintenance, and Housekeeping. Environmental Services Director had no explanation for 1) why the dish room was allowed to get out of hand, 2) why the FRP was peeling off the wall, 3) the missing dry wall which was exposing hiding places for pests or 4) the uncaulked/ungrouted tile.

The Administrator verbalized responsibility and a failure to realize how quickly things had deteriorated in the last few months.

On 06/04/2021 at 1:35 PM, the dietary manager indicated the kitchen was not sanitary enough to serve out of.

06/04/2021 at 1:55 PM, a Cook indicated the cockroach problem got worse after the fumigation in the kitchen.