Federal inspectors found eight tiles around an air conditioning unit in one shared room had separated from the floor, creating a tripping hazard for the two residents living there. The peeling extended about an inch up from the floor surface.
Maintenance Director #190 told inspectors on September 23 that he was aware of the flooring problems and was trying to get broken flooring replaced "in order of severity." He said the facility had been working on replacing flooring for several months.
Only five rooms had been completed.
The maintenance director maintained a list of flooring repairs but could not explain why Residents #53 and #67 continued living with damaged tiles that posed safety risks. The facility houses 71 residents total.
Beyond the peeling floors, inspectors documented a more pervasive problem throughout the building. Carpeting in hallways showed "grime and dark staining" with visible tracks and old moisture stains outside each resident room. The staining extended down the middle of hallways and around offices and nursing stations.
Inspectors observed the carpet conditions during two full days of inspection, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on September 22 and from 8:20 a.m. to noon on September 23. The damage was consistent throughout the facility.
When confronted about the carpet conditions, Maintenance Director #190 confirmed the carpeting was dirty and said "they tried to clean it, but it did not work." He told inspectors the facility was trying to get the carpeting replaced and that the corporate office was reviewing replacement options.
The maintenance director could not provide any evidence that the facility had taken concrete steps toward replacement. He produced no quotes from contractors, no purchase orders, and no timeline for the work.
He revealed the facility owned a carpet cleaner that was used once monthly to maintain the carpets. Despite this regular cleaning schedule, he acknowledged they did not maintain the carpeting "in a sanitized and clean manner."
The facility's own policy, dated November 29, 2022, required staff to "maintain and provide a safe, functional, sanitary and comfortable environment for residents." The policy specifically mandated that all facility personnel report "broken, defective equipment and furnishings upon identification."
The policy also required preventative maintenance schedules to "maintain the building and equipment to maintain a safe environment."
Yet residents continued living with conditions that violated these standards. The peeling floors created tripping hazards in living spaces where elderly residents moved daily. The permanently stained carpets in common areas meant residents, families, and staff walked through spaces that could not be adequately sanitized despite monthly cleaning attempts.
The violations represented a systemic failure to maintain basic environmental standards. While the facility had policies requiring prompt reporting and repair of defective conditions, the reality was months of delayed action on known problems.
The maintenance director's admission that cleaning "did not work" revealed the extent of the carpet deterioration. When standard cleaning equipment and monthly maintenance cannot restore sanitary conditions, the flooring has failed beyond repair.
Corporate oversight appeared equally ineffective. The maintenance director said corporate offices were "reviewing options" for carpet replacement but could demonstrate no progress toward actually ordering new materials or scheduling installation work.
For Residents #53 and #67, the flooring problems were immediate and personal. They navigated their shared living space around tiles that had separated from the subfloor, creating uneven surfaces that posed fall risks for elderly individuals who might already have mobility challenges.
The inspection findings affected all 71 residents who lived with carpeting that could not be maintained in clean and sanitary conditions, despite the facility's monthly cleaning efforts and written policies requiring safe environments.
Federal inspectors classified the violations as having "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" but noted they affected "many" residents. The findings emerged from complaint investigations numbered 2575168 and 1260918, suggesting residents or families had specifically reported concerns about facility conditions.
The inspection revealed a facility where basic maintenance had fallen behind for months, where corporate decision-making delayed essential repairs, and where residents lived daily with environmental conditions that the facility's own staff acknowledged could not be properly cleaned or maintained.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Pickerington Care and Rehabilitation from 2025-11-17 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Pickerington Care and Rehabilitation
- Browse all OH nursing home inspections