The 115-bed facility had been battling an infestation for months. Service inspection reports from July through September document cockroaches repeatedly found in resident rooms, dressers, and kitchen areas.
On July 24, pest control workers found cockroach activity in a resident's dresser. They physically removed the insects from the room.
A week later, light cockroach activity appeared in two more resident rooms. Again, workers removed the cockroaches by hand.
The problem persisted. On August 20, pest control discovered two baby cockroaches in a broom closet. On August 28, they pulled 10 cockroaches from another resident's dresser.
By September 9, the situation had worsened. Workers removed 10 more cockroaches from a resident dresser and found activity behind the kitchen refrigerator and underneath baseboards.
The September 24 service report showed cockroaches had spread to additional rooms. Workers removed one cockroach from one resident room and five from another. Multiple rooms required treatment.
Residents noticed the problem. One told inspectors they had seen cockroaches in their room about a week earlier. Another resident reported their room had just been sprayed after staff found a bed bug in their bed.
The facility's administrator blamed residents for the ongoing infestation. "Some residents hoard stuff or kept their stuff in cardboard boxes but get mad when staff tried to help them declutter," the administrator told inspectors on October 16.
The administrator defended the pest control program, saying the exterminator "came out every time they called them and it was not always in the same area." They characterized it as "an effective pest control program as a whole, but they had to stay on top of residents that hoard."
Federal inspectors disagreed. They found the facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, violating regulations designed to keep nursing homes free of insects and rodents.
The facility's own pest control policy, last revised in May 2008, states Thunder Care maintains "an on-going pest control program to ensure that the building is kept free of insects and rodents."
Service reports tell a different story. Over two months, pest control workers made at least six visits to remove cockroaches from resident living spaces. The insects appeared in dressers where residents store personal belongings, in utility areas, and throughout the kitchen where food is prepared.
The repeated discoveries suggest the pest control program wasn't preventing infestations or eliminating them once found. Workers resorted to physically removing insects rather than addressing the underlying problem.
Kitchen infestations pose particular health risks in nursing homes. Cockroaches behind refrigerators and under baseboards can contaminate food preparation areas. The insects carry bacteria and can trigger asthma and allergies in vulnerable elderly residents.
Resident rooms should provide a safe, clean living environment. Instead, Thunder Care residents found cockroaches in their dressers and at least one discovered a bed bug in their bed.
The administrator's response focused on resident behavior rather than facility management. Blaming residents for hoarding while cockroaches multiply in kitchen areas and utility closets suggests systemic pest control failures.
Professional pest management requires identifying entry points, eliminating food sources, and treating infestations comprehensively. Repeatedly removing insects by hand indicates reactive rather than preventive pest control.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm or potential for actual harm. However, the widespread nature of the problem affected many residents across multiple rooms and common areas.
The inspection occurred after a complaint, suggesting someone was concerned enough about conditions to contact authorities. The nursing assistant's reaction when asked about cockroaches indicated staff were well aware of the ongoing problem.
Thunder Care's pest control policy promises an ongoing program to keep the building free of insects and rodents. The reality documented by service reports shows cockroaches established in resident rooms, spreading to new areas, and requiring repeated emergency removals rather than systematic elimination.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Thunder Care and Rehabilitation from 2025-10-16 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
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