Monroe Health & Rehab: Roach Infestation Found - VA
It was the latest sighting in what staff described as an ongoing infestation that residents complain about frequently. Over three days of inspection, federal surveyors documented roaches crawling in the lobby bathroom, actively moving along the floor near the second-floor ice machine, and throughout areas where food is prepared and served.
"It waxes and wanes, they come and spray," licensed practical nurse LPN #6 told inspectors when asked about the pest problem. "Residents complain about roaches frequently."
The facility's pest control reports revealed the scope of the problem. Since April 15, inspectors found that cracks and damage behind the kitchen dishwasher had been flagged as "a high area of concern" for allowing pest access. A July 16 pest control report documented the persistence of the problem in stark terms: "Wall around the dishwasher machine needs to be removed and clean all the food and standing water from inside the wall, also sealed opening around pipes, wall and floor, we recommend this so many time!"
Despite these repeated warnings, the kitchen tour on August 19 revealed that little had changed. Inspectors found openings around pipes under the dish machine, broken tiles, standing water, and many of the same conditions that pest control companies had been flagging for months.
The facility's Environmental Services Director acknowledged he had attempted repairs, telling inspectors he had caulked holes in kitchen walls, re-caulked around the base of walls and floors, and removed one wall on the far side of the dish room. He believed he had corrected the issues identified in pest control reports.
But the evidence suggested otherwise.
At the second-floor ice machine, inspectors observed roaches actively crawling along the floor while water stood pooled on the surface. Gaps around pipes in the wall had been previously identified in pest control reports but remained unsealed.
The lobby presented another entry point for pests. Both sets of double doors leading into the facility had visible gaps that would allow pest entry. The Environmental Services Director said he had installed weather stripping to seal the gaps, but wheelchairs tended to knock it off.
For residents, the infestation became a personal problem. In February, social services staff discovered that roaches had infested one resident's radio along with piles of books, magazines and newspapers in his room. Progress notes from February 19 documented the disposal process: "SS spoke with the resident and informed that he needed to discard the items including his radio. Resident acknowledged understanding and stated that he would be purchasing another radio."
The nursing assistant and social services worker threw away the resident's radio that day.
When asked about the effectiveness of the facility's current pest control program, the Environmental Services Director acknowledged they had changed companies a few years ago because the previous contractor was not effective. He said he felt the situation was better than in the past.
The timing of pest sightings during the federal inspection suggested the problem remained active. On August 19, roaches were crawling near the ice machine. On August 20, an inspector using the lobby bathroom observed a roach crawling on the wall. On August 21, another roach was spotted in the first-floor hallway.
Monroe Health & Rehab Center's pest control policy states that "routine pest control procedures will be in place to prevent pest infiltration" and requires appropriate action to eliminate reported pest situations in the food service department. The policy provided no additional details about implementation or monitoring.
Federal inspectors briefed facility leadership about their findings during an end-of-day meeting on August 20. The administrator, director of nursing, and regional director of operations were made aware of the pest control violations.
The inspection classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm to many residents. For residents who complain frequently about roaches in their living spaces, the distinction between potential harm and daily reality may feel academic.
Standing water behind kitchen equipment, gaps around pipes, and broken tiles create the conditions that allow pest populations to establish and thrive. Despite months of pest control reports identifying the same problems, the fundamental infrastructure issues that enable roach infestations remained largely unaddressed when federal inspectors arrived in August.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Monroe Health & Rehab Center from 2025-08-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
MONROE HEALTH & REHAB CENTER in CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 21, 2025.
It was the latest sighting in what staff described as an ongoing infestation that residents complain about frequently.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.