KINGSTON, PA - Third Avenue Health & Rehab Center was cited for failing to maintain an effective pest control program during a health inspection that revealed widespread evidence of rodent activity throughout the facility, including resident bedrooms, common areas, and food service areas.
Extensive Mouse Activity Found Throughout Facility
Inspectors documented mouse droppings in multiple locations during their May 30, 2025 visit to the Kingston nursing home. The most concerning discoveries occurred in areas where vulnerable residents spend significant time, including bedrooms and dining spaces.
In one resident's bedroom, inspectors found over 20 mouse-like droppings concentrated in the window-side corner. The facility's Assistant Director of Nursing was present during this observation and confirmed the findings. Another resident's room contained several droppings scattered on the floor, against the wall, and behind the bed near the window.
The dining room presented particularly alarming conditions for infection control. Inspectors documented more than 50 mouse droppings underneath a cabinet along the kitchen-side wall where residents regularly take their meals. This discovery raises significant concerns about food safety and contamination risks in an environment serving medically fragile individuals.
Food Service Areas Compromised by Rodent Activity
The facility's kitchen, where all resident meals are prepared, showed clear signs of ongoing mouse activity. Inspectors found droppings in the dry storage area beneath metal storage racks where food supplies are kept. Additionally, mouse droppings were discovered scattered among silicone caulking pieces near a wall crevice, suggesting mice had either established an entry point or were attempting to access wall spaces within the food preparation area.
These findings represent serious breaches of basic sanitation requirements in healthcare facilities. Food service areas must maintain strict cleanliness standards to prevent foodborne illnesses, which can be particularly dangerous for elderly residents with compromised immune systems.
Health Risks and Medical Implications
Rodent infestations in healthcare facilities create multiple pathways for disease transmission. The Centers for Disease Control identifies rodents as carriers of numerous diseases that can spread to humans through direct contact with droppings, urine, or saliva. These pathogens can cause respiratory infections, gastrointestinal illnesses, and other serious health complications.
Elderly nursing home residents face elevated risks from rodent-borne diseases due to age-related immune system changes and underlying health conditions. Many residents take medications that suppress immune function or have chronic conditions like diabetes that impair their ability to fight infections. Even minimal exposure to contaminated surfaces or airborne particles from dried rodent waste can trigger serious illness in this vulnerable population.
The presence of rodents in food service areas amplifies these risks significantly. Mice can contaminate food supplies, cooking surfaces, and serving areas with bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. Cross-contamination can occur when food preparation continues in environments where rodent activity is present, potentially affecting multiple residents simultaneously.
Resident Reports Confirm Ongoing Problem
Multiple residents reported directly observing mice in their living spaces, indicating the infestation had persisted for several months. One resident told inspectors he "has seen mice a few times over the past few months running across the floor in his room." During a group interview, another resident recalled seeing a mouse in her bedroom the previous week and explained that she had been observing rodents for months and had reported the issue to staff.
These resident accounts demonstrate that the rodent problem was not a recent development but had been ongoing without effective intervention. The facility's failure to address resident concerns about pest activity represents a breakdown in basic quality assurance and resident advocacy protocols.
Facility's Pest Management Program Inadequate
The facility contracts with an external pest management company that provides monthly services. However, inspection records revealed significant gaps in the effectiveness of this arrangement. Company invoices from December 2024 through May 2025 showed no documented evidence of rodent activity identification, despite the extensive physical evidence found throughout the building.
The Director of Maintenance confirmed during interviews that the pest management company had not reported any rodent activity to facility leadership. This suggests either inadequate inspection protocols by the pest control service or insufficient communication between the contractor and facility management about building conditions.
Industry standards require healthcare facilities to maintain comprehensive pest management programs that include regular monitoring, documentation of findings, and immediate intervention when activity is detected. Effective programs typically involve monthly inspections with detailed reporting, strategic placement of monitoring devices, and prompt treatment when evidence of pest activity is identified.
Administrative Acknowledgment of System Failures
The facility's Nursing Home Administrator acknowledged during the inspection that the facility had no documented evidence of an effective pest management program. This admission confirms systemic failures in both pest control implementation and administrative oversight of building maintenance standards.
Healthcare facilities are required to maintain environments that support resident health and safety. Pest control represents a fundamental component of environmental safety, particularly in settings serving immunocompromised individuals who depend on the facility to maintain sanitary conditions.
Additional Issues Identified
Beyond the extensive rodent infestation, the inspection findings suggest broader problems with facility maintenance and quality assurance protocols. The failure to detect and address widespread pest activity indicates possible deficiencies in housekeeping supervision, maintenance oversight, and resident complaint response procedures.
The discovery of mouse droppings in multiple resident bedrooms suggests that daily cleaning and maintenance protocols may not meet healthcare facility standards. Proper housekeeping procedures should identify and address pest evidence promptly, preventing the accumulation of droppings that inspectors documented throughout the building.
Regulatory Requirements and Standards
Federal regulations require nursing homes to maintain sanitary environments free from pest infestations. These standards recognize that healthcare facilities must provide higher levels of environmental control than typical residential or commercial buildings due to resident vulnerability and medical complexity.
Effective pest control programs in healthcare settings typically include integrated pest management approaches that combine prevention, monitoring, and treatment strategies. This includes sealing entry points, eliminating food and water sources, regular professional inspections, and immediate response protocols when activity is detected.
The inspection findings indicate Third Avenue Health & Rehab Center must implement comprehensive reforms to its pest management approach, including enhanced contractor oversight, improved monitoring protocols, and systematic facility maintenance to prevent future infestations that could compromise resident health and safety.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kingston Health Care Center from 2025-05-30 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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