Franklin Plaza: Broken Toilet Left Unflushed for Days - OH
The toilet served residents diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder. All three men required supervision with toileting and transfers due to cognitive impairment.
Inspectors found the unflushed waste during their August 25 visit. When they asked Registered Nurse #674 about the toilet at 10:00 A.M., she confirmed it wouldn't flush and said she would notify maintenance.
The maintenance director had no idea the toilet was broken.
Three days later, on August 28, inspectors returned with the administrator and Maintenance Director #772. The toilet still contained feces. The maintenance director tried to flush it himself and confirmed it wouldn't work.
He told inspectors he wasn't aware the toilet had been malfunctioning. He said he needed to schedule shutting off the water on non-dialysis days to fix it.
The residents affected couldn't advocate for themselves. Resident #102, admitted in May 2021 with congestive heart failure, anxiety, dementia, and schizoaffective disorder, required supervision with toilet transfers and toileting hygiene. When inspectors tried to interview him on August 25, he couldn't participate due to his cognitive condition.
Resident #65 had been at the facility since October 2013 with paranoid schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. His care plan noted he needed supervision or touching assistance with toilet transfers and toileting hygiene because of dementia and weakness. He also couldn't be interviewed due to cognitive impairment.
Both men were occasionally or always continent, meaning they typically used toilets rather than relying solely on incontinence products.
The facility's own policy, updated in January 2025, guaranteed residents "the right to safe and clean-living environment" including "general maintenance of sanitary interior."
Franklin Plaza Extended Care sits on Franklin Boulevard in Cleveland and has faced multiple complaints. The broken toilet violation was investigated as part of three separate complaint numbers filed with state regulators.
The inspection report doesn't specify how long the toilet had been broken before inspectors arrived. It also doesn't indicate whether residents were offered alternative bathroom facilities during the malfunction.
The nursing supervisor knew about the problem but hadn't ensured it was fixed. The maintenance director responsible for repairs didn't know it existed until inspectors brought him to see it three days later.
For residents with severe cognitive impairments who couldn't communicate their needs or advocate for basic sanitation, the broken toilet represented more than an inconvenience. Federal regulations require nursing homes to maintain safe and sanitary living conditions for vulnerable populations who depend entirely on staff for their care and dignity.
The facility has not yet submitted its plan of correction to address the deficiency.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Franklin Plaza Extended Care from 2025-09-02 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 14, 2026 · Our methodology
FRANKLIN PLAZA EXTENDED CARE in CLEVELAND, OH was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 2, 2025.
The toilet served residents diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at FRANKLIN PLAZA EXTENDED CARE?
- The toilet served residents diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Alzheimer's disease, paranoid schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in CLEVELAND, OH, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from FRANKLIN PLAZA EXTENDED CARE or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 365388.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check FRANKLIN PLAZA EXTENDED CARE's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.