The inspection revealed a pattern of inadequate housekeeping that affected at least three residents across multiple days. Inspectors documented dirt, paper scraps, and medical equipment scattered under beds and on floors where residents lived and received care.
Resident #5's room contained visible dirt near the bed and small pieces of paper underneath it when inspectors arrived at 2:33 p.m. on December 2nd. A family member told investigators the next day that garbage appeared "constantly" on the floor in that room.
"They have never seen a staff member clean underneath the beds," the family member said, explaining they regularly found garbage there during visits.
The problems extended beyond a single room. At 3:22 p.m. that same day, inspectors found visible dirt on the floor where Resident #7 and his wheelchair were positioned. The resident acknowledged the cleaning issues but expressed sympathy for staff.
"They could do a better job" with cleaning, Resident #7 told inspectors. He said the quality "depended on the person" and noted he sometimes tracked dirt inside from outdoor trips. "He felt bad for the cleaners and would never complain," according to the inspection report.
Staff members confirmed the inconsistent cleaning practices. One employee, identified as Staff Member L, told inspectors during a December 3rd interview that "some staff members were better at cleaning than others." The worker said they would "only clean something if it was needed and document it."
Resident #9's room presented the most persistent problems. When inspectors checked at 8:00 a.m. on December 3rd, they found two oxygen tubing ear protectors and a green piece of garbage under his bed. The next morning at 8:15 a.m., the same items remained: two oxygen tubing ear protectors and what inspectors now described as a green piece of paper still scattered under the bed.
The facility's own cleaning records revealed gaps in documentation that matched what inspectors observed. Records showed Resident #5 and Resident #7's rooms were cleaned with dry and wet mops on December 3rd, but no cleaning documentation existed for December 2nd when inspectors first found the dirt and debris.
Inspectors requested the missing December 2nd cleaning records. The facility never provided them.
Resident #9's room showed cleaning with dry and wet mops on December 3rd, yet the oxygen equipment and paper remained under his bed the following morning, suggesting the cleaning either didn't occur as documented or failed to address items beneath furniture.
The violations occurred despite federal regulations requiring nursing homes to maintain a "safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment" for all residents. The inspection classified the harm level as minimal but noted it affected multiple residents across the facility.
Federal inspectors found these conditions during a complaint investigation, suggesting someone reported concerns about cleanliness to state authorities. The December 2025 inspection focused specifically on whether the facility honored residents' rights to proper environmental conditions.
The cleaning problems persisted across multiple days of inspection, indicating they weren't isolated incidents but reflected ongoing housekeeping deficiencies. Family members had observed the issues long enough to tell inspectors they "constantly" found garbage in rooms and had never witnessed proper cleaning under beds.
For residents like #7, who used wheelchairs and spent extended time on floors that remained visibly dirty, the environmental conditions directly affected their daily living spaces. The accumulation of medical equipment under beds also raised questions about infection control and proper handling of oxygen therapy supplies.
The facility's inconsistent documentation and missing cleaning records suggested either inadequate supervision of housekeeping staff or systematic problems with maintaining required environmental standards. When inspectors requested proof of cleaning on dates when problems were first observed, the facility couldn't produce the records.
Resident #7's reluctance to complain despite acknowledging poor cleaning reflected a common dynamic in nursing homes, where residents may hesitate to report problems with their care environment. His comment that cleaning quality "depended on the person" highlighted the lack of consistent standards among housekeeping staff.
The oxygen tubing equipment left under Resident #9's bed for multiple days represented both an environmental hazard and potential infection control risk, as medical supplies scattered on floors could compromise resident safety and hygiene.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation from 2025-10-22 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
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