The maintenance director had been requesting twice-monthly visits from the pest control company since starting her job in August, but the company declined without providing a reason. She told inspectors on November 20 that she frequently sees gnats and roaches throughout the facility despite monthly pest control services.
"I do not feel that pest control is effective," she said during the inspection. She had been working with the administrator to secure a new pest control contract, but corporate approval remained pending.
The maintenance director only learned about gnats in the conference room when she saw them herself during the inspection interview. She said she would request an emergency pest control visit for November 21 to address the conference room infestation.
Administrator concerns about the pest problem dated back to her first days on the job in late August. She told inspectors she had been aware of gnats since starting on August 25, but only learned about flies becoming an issue on November 18. She said she was unaware that roaches were also a problem until the inspection.
"The facility should have an effective pest control system, and the facility's environment should be pest free," the administrator said. She explained that corporate offices were obtaining quotes for a new pest control contract, but the process had not been finalized.
The director of nursing echoed concerns about the failed pest control program during her November 21 interview. She confirmed that the facility should maintain effective pest control and that the current monthly service schedule was inadequate given the persistent problems with flies, gnats, and roaches.
All three staff members expressed the same concern about health risks. The maintenance director warned that "insects like flies and gnats can carry bacteria and cause residents to become sick." Both the administrator and director of nursing said an ineffective pest control system "can cause illness and problems with infection control."
Facility records showed the pest control company had provided monthly services as scheduled. Invoices documented treatments on November 5, October 1, and September 3 for ant, spider, and roach prevention. However, a November 19 invoice failed to detail what specific treatment the company provided during that visit.
The facility's pest control policy, dating to 2001, requires maintaining "an effective pest control program" to ensure "the building is kept free of insects and rodents." The policy establishes an "on-going pest control program" as the standard.
Despite monthly professional pest control services targeting the exact insects staff were reporting, the problems persisted. The maintenance director's August request for increased service frequency had been rejected by the pest control company without explanation.
The administrator's timeline revealed how recently the pest problems had escalated. She started her position just days after the maintenance director began working at the facility. Within weeks, both were dealing with multiple insect infestations that the contracted pest control company could not eliminate.
Federal inspectors documented the violation as affecting some residents with minimal harm or potential for actual harm. The citation fell under infection control standards, reflecting staff concerns about bacteria transmission from flies and gnats to vulnerable nursing home residents.
The facility's 24-year-old pest control policy had established clear expectations for maintaining a pest-free environment, but current operations fell short of those standards. Monthly pest control visits proved insufficient to address the ongoing infestations that staff observed regularly throughout the building.
Corporate approval processes had delayed the administrator's efforts to secure more effective pest control services. While she worked to obtain a new contract with increased service frequency, residents remained exposed to the health risks that staff had identified from persistent insect problems.
The maintenance director's request for an emergency November 21 pest control visit highlighted the immediate nature of the problem. Gnats visible during federal inspection interviews demonstrated that current pest control measures had failed to protect even administrative areas of the facility.
Staff observations of gnats and roaches occurring "frequently" despite professional monthly treatments indicated systemic failures in the facility's pest control approach. The rejected request for increased service frequency left administrators with limited options while corporate offices reviewed new contractor proposals.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Cascades At Jacinto Rehab Lp from 2025-11-21 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.