Epic Nursing: Black Mold in Secure Unit - TX
The water stains and dark material appeared in the secure unit's hallway ceiling after an air conditioning leak several weeks before the September inspection. Multiple staff members told inspectors the black substance looked like mold and could cause respiratory problems for residents.
"The ceiling has been like that for a while," LVN C told inspectors on September 3. She said the water stains and black substance were caused by the air conditioning leak. "Black substance appeared to be mold to her," according to the inspection report.
The licensed vocational nurse warned that mold exposure could lead to respiratory issues.
But the facility's administrator claimed ignorance when inspectors questioned her the next day. During a September 4 interview, the administrator said she wasn't aware of any water stains or black substance in the secure unit ceiling, despite other managers knowing about the problem for weeks.
The maintenance director acknowledged he knew about the water stains but said he hadn't been notified about any black substance. He told inspectors the air conditioning unit leak happened "a few weeks back" and had been repaired, but he was waiting for the ceiling to dry completely before fixing the damage.
Company policy required him to obtain three estimates before proceeding with the repair work, he explained. The maintenance director agreed the black substance could be mold and might cause respiratory problems for residents in the secure unit.
The director of nursing was fully aware of both the water damage and the black substance. She told inspectors on September 4 that she knew about the water stains and black material in the secure unit ceiling. Like other staff members, she identified the substance as mold.
"The water stains and black substance in the ceiling would make the facility look less homelike," she told inspectors. The nursing director acknowledged that mold could cause respiratory issues for both residents and staff in the secure unit.
The secure unit houses residents with dementia and other cognitive impairments who require specialized care and supervision. These vulnerable residents often have compromised immune systems that make them particularly susceptible to respiratory problems from mold exposure.
Federal inspectors documented the violation during a complaint investigation on September 3 and 4. They observed the ceiling damage firsthand at 11:37 a.m. on September 3, noting water stains and black substance in the hallway ceiling of the secure unit.
The facility's own homelike environment policy, revised in 2021, requires staff to provide residents with "a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment." The policy specifically mandates a "clean, sanitary and orderly environment" as one of the characteristics that should reflect a personalized, homelike setting.
Despite this clear policy requirement, the facility allowed the potentially hazardous ceiling condition to persist while navigating procurement procedures. The maintenance director's explanation that he needed three estimates before repairs could begin highlights how administrative processes delayed addressing a potential health hazard.
The disconnect between the administrator's claimed ignorance and other staff members' detailed knowledge of the problem raises questions about communication and oversight within the facility. While the maintenance director, nursing director, and licensed vocational nurse all knew about the ceiling damage and suspected mold, the administrator responsible for overall facility operations said she was unaware.
The air conditioning leak that caused the initial water damage had been repaired weeks before the inspection, according to multiple staff accounts. However, the resulting ceiling damage and suspected mold growth remained unaddressed, creating an ongoing potential health risk for residents in the secure unit.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to maintain safe, functional, sanitary, and comfortable environments for residents. The inspection found Epic Nursing failed to meet this standard in the secure unit, where vulnerable dementia patients live in close proximity to the damaged ceiling.
The violation was classified as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting few residents. However, the presence of suspected mold in a confined area housing cognitively impaired residents represents a serious environmental hazard that could have escalated without prompt remediation.
The facility's failure to address the ceiling damage promptly left residents in the secure unit exposed to potential respiratory health risks from suspected mold growth for an extended period.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Epic Nursing & Rehabilitation from 2025-09-04 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
Epic Nursing & Rehabilitation in Corsicana, TX was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 4, 2025.
The water stains and dark material appeared in the secure unit's hallway ceiling after an air conditioning leak several weeks before the September inspection.
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.