Kingston Care Center: Pest Control Failures - IN
Federal inspectors discovered the infestation on November 19 at 10:20 AM. Three food carts sat covered in dried yellow and white liquid. Three more carts held leftover breakfast food waiting to be washed.
The Dietary Manager admitted the carts hadn't been cleaned nightly despite facility policy requiring cleaning and sanitizing after each meal. She told inspectors pest control had treated the gnats and the problem was resolved, but the evidence suggested otherwise.
"There was no documentation for nightly cart cleaning," the Dietary Manager acknowledged. She said the carts observed in the dining room "had not been cleaned nightly based on appearance."
The Maintenance Director confirmed pest control had treated the area for gnats the previous week. But pest control logs revealed a pattern of recurring problems.
On October 31, exterminators found fruit flies in the kitchen area. Two weeks later on November 13, they discovered drain flies in kitchen sinks, food scattered over the dishwasher area, and noted the kitchen and dining room "needed improved sanitation."
The Administrator confirmed staff weren't following basic cleaning protocols.
"The carts were not cleaned nightly as required," the Administrator told inspectors on November 20. "The area should have been cleaned to maintain sanitation and prevent pests."
No documentation existed showing regular cleaning of the area or carts.
The facility had clear policies on paper. A cleaning policy dated October 2024 required surfaces and floors to be cleaned regularly and when visibly soiled. Another policy from September 2019 specifically mandated food carts be cleaned and sanitized after each use and meal.
But reality in the kitchen told a different story.
The gnats clustered in the dining room corner opposite the dishwasher, drawn to the unsanitary conditions. The dried liquid coating the carts suggested meals had been served and returned without proper cleaning for days.
All 107 residents who lived at Kingston Health Center ate food prepared in this compromised kitchen environment. The facility's failure to maintain basic sanitation standards put every resident at risk of foodborne illness.
Federal inspectors documented the violation under food safety regulations requiring nursing homes to store, prepare, distribute and serve food according to professional standards. The citation noted "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" to residents.
The inspection occurred in response to a complaint filed with state regulators. The specific nature of the complaint wasn't detailed in the report, but the kitchen conditions inspectors found painted a clear picture of systematic sanitation failures.
Despite having written policies requiring nightly cart cleaning and regular surface sanitizing, staff routinely ignored these protocols. The Administrator's admission that carts weren't cleaned as required revealed management knew about the problem but failed to ensure compliance.
The recurring pest issues documented in exterminator logs showed this wasn't an isolated incident. Fruit flies in October, drain flies and food debris in November, and live gnats during the inspection demonstrated ongoing sanitation problems in areas where resident meals were prepared and served.
The dried liquids coating multiple carts suggested breakfast service had ended hours earlier without proper cleanup. Leftover food sat waiting to be washed while gnats multiplied in the unsanitary environment.
Kingston Health Center's kitchen failures affected every resident in the 107-bed facility. Each meal served from this compromised kitchen carried the risk of contamination from pests, dried food residue, and inadequate cleaning practices that management admitted weren't being followed.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kingston Health Center of Fort Wayne from 2025-11-20 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
Kingston Health Center of Fort Wayne in FORT WAYNE, IN was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 20, 2025.
Federal inspectors discovered the infestation on November 19 at 10:20 AM.
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.