State inspectors found the facility failed to maintain basic infection control standards during an October investigation, with staff admitting they had no proper cleaning protocols for specialized medical equipment and hadn't attempted to find odorless cleaning solutions.
Resident 1 required specialized urinals due to their medical condition, but the facility's infection preventionist had no idea the equipment existed. Staff C, the infection preventionist, told inspectors during an October 1 interview that the standard process for cleaning bedside urinals was simply rinsing with water after each use and replacing them when they became stained or odorous.
"Staff C stated they were unaware of Resident 1's specialized urinal and a plan for cleaning, disinfecting, storing, and maintaining would need to be developed," inspectors wrote. The infection preventionist confirmed the current cleaning process "did not meet infection control expectations."
The facility's housekeeping supervisor revealed an even more troubling practice. Staff F told inspectors that housekeeping used only hot water to clean Resident 1's room because the resident didn't like the smell of cleaning products. The facility had never attempted to use odorless or fragrance-free cleaning solutions as an alternative.
Meanwhile, Resident 2's room had become a breeding ground for flies and contamination. When inspectors visited on October 1 at 1:10 PM, they watched a fly land on the resident's bedside table, lunch tray, shoulder, and bed while the resident was finishing lunch.
"Resident 2 stated they always had a fly in their room," the inspection report noted.
The resident's bed was covered with personal belongings, food wrappers, empty soda bottles, and random loose papers. The sink and counter were cluttered with personal items, hygiene supplies, empty medicine cups with ointment residue, food wrappers, and food crumbs.
Multiple soda bottles throughout the room contained what appeared to be a dark, moist substance. When inspectors asked about it, Resident 2 explained it was chewing tobacco and spit.
Resident 2, who was admitted with diabetes, circulatory complications, and a foot ulcer, told inspectors their room was cleaned only two to three times per week. The cleaning included sweeping, mopping, and bathroom cleaning, but housekeeping staff wouldn't throw away garbage unless residents put it in the garbage can themselves.
The resident said it had been "a long time" since their counter and sink were cleared off and wiped down.
Staff G, a housekeeper, described the daily cleaning process as wiping down surfaces, sweeping and mopping floors, cleaning toilets, sinks and showers, and emptying garbage. The housekeeper said multiple residents kept so many personal belongings in their rooms that it made it difficult to move things around to clean surfaces properly.
The facility's own policies required daily room cleaning with deep cleaning at least once monthly. Staff F, the housekeeping supervisor, confirmed that Resident 1's room received a deep clean on the morning of September 30, but only with hot water.
Director of Nursing Staff B acknowledged the infection control failures during an October 1 interview. The nursing director told inspectors that Resident 1's specialized urinals had been thrown away and replacements ordered, confirming that the current cleaning and maintenance process "did not meet infection control expectations."
Administrator Staff A admitted the facility failed to follow its own policies. The administrator confirmed that cleaning protocols for resident rooms and personal equipment were not followed for either Resident 1 or Resident 2.
The inspection findings revealed a facility where infection control had broken down at multiple levels. From specialized medical equipment left improperly maintained to rooms cleaned with water only, the violations exposed residents to unnecessary health risks.
Resident 2's comprehensive assessment from July showed they were cognitively intact and required only setup assistance for daily activities like dressing and personal hygiene. Despite being capable of self-care with minimal help, the resident lived surrounded by contaminated surfaces and fly infestations that the facility failed to address through proper cleaning protocols.
The state cited Columbia Crest Center for violating Washington administrative code requiring facilities to maintain sanitary conditions and prevent the spread of infection. Inspectors classified the violation as causing minimal harm with few residents affected, but the failures exposed fundamental breakdowns in basic care standards.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Columbia Crest Center from 2025-11-17 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.