Orchard Gardens: Roach Infestation in Kitchen - KS
The roaches were found "in different stages of life" behind refrigerators and freezers, under the clean dish storage rack, beneath meal preparation counters, behind doors, and in the dry storage room when inspectors arrived at 9:53 AM on September 3rd.
Kitchen staff had been battling the infestation for six months.
Dietary Staff CC told inspectors she had seen several roaches and reported her concerns to the facility's Certified Dietary Manager. She said someone came into the kitchen weekly to try controlling the roach population, but the efforts were clearly failing.
Two garbage cans sat without lids in the kitchen. Staff CC explained the lids were removed because "it was easier to throw items away."
The facility's own Certified Dietary Manager, identified as Dietary Staff BB, confirmed the roach problem extended throughout the kitchen. She told inspectors the pests were living behind fridges, freezers, under counters, and behind doors, as well as in dry storage areas where food is kept.
The dietary manager said pest control service was scheduled to visit sometime in September, but the company only came monthly. She said Administrative Staff A was responsible for calling the pest control company.
Six months. That's how long kitchen workers had been dealing with roaches while serving three meals a day to elderly residents.
When inspectors interviewed Administrative Staff A at 4:50 PM, he acknowledged the roach problem. He said he expected the kitchen to be pest-free and claimed the facility had tried to accomplish this goal.
The facility's own pest control policy, dated just three months earlier in June 2025, states that Orchard Gardens "shall maintain an effective pest control program" and "maintains an ongoing pest control program to ensure the building is kept free of insects and rodents."
The policy promised the building would be "kept free" of insects and rodents. Instead, inspectors found a kitchen teeming with roaches at various life stages, suggesting an established breeding population.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to obtain food from approved sources and prepare, distribute, and serve meals "in accordance with professional standards." Inspectors determined the facility failed to prepare and serve food under sanitary conditions, creating the potential for foodborne bacteria.
The violation placed all 70 residents at risk for foodborne illnesses. Elderly nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable to foodborne pathogens due to weakened immune systems and underlying health conditions.
Monthly pest control visits had proven inadequate against an infestation that staff described as ongoing for half a year. The roaches had colonized multiple areas of the kitchen, from food storage areas to preparation surfaces to cleaning stations.
Kitchen workers continued preparing resident meals in spaces where live roaches crawled across floors and dead ones accumulated in corners. The uncovered garbage cans provided additional breeding and feeding opportunities for the pest population.
The inspection occurred following a complaint, suggesting someone with knowledge of conditions inside Orchard Gardens felt compelled to alert federal authorities about the kitchen's sanitary failures.
Despite having a written policy promising an effective pest control program, the facility allowed roaches to establish a thriving population throughout the very heart of resident care: the kitchen where every meal was prepared.
Staff CC's weekly sightings of "several roaches" and her reports to management indicate the problem was well-known among kitchen workers. Yet the infestation continued for months while elderly residents consumed food prepared in contaminated conditions.
The roach population had reached the point where inspectors could observe both live insects and dead ones scattered across kitchen floors during a single morning visit. The pests had claimed territory behind major appliances, under food preparation surfaces, and in storage areas where ingredients were kept.
Administrative Staff A's admission that he "expected" a pest-free kitchen highlighted the gap between facility expectations and reality. Expectations don't eliminate roaches. Consistent, effective pest management does.
For six months, 70 vulnerable residents received meals prepared in conditions that federal inspectors determined violated basic sanitary standards and created risk for foodborne illness.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Orchard Gardens from 2025-09-03 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
ORCHARD GARDENS in WICHITA, KS was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 3, 2025.
Kitchen staff had been battling the infestation for six months.
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.