The November inspection revealed live roach activity throughout the facility, from resident bathrooms to the conference room where a small roach landed on the table during the survey.
Resident 70 described the infestation matter-of-factly when inspectors visited his room. He reported seeing roaches "in his bathroom, dresser, and nightstand." When he opened his dresser for inspectors, they observed "live activity present of three different size roaches: small, medium and large."
"This is nothing, I see them all the time everywhere," the resident told inspectors.
None of the residents interviewed had seen an exterminator recently. Resident 70 said he had not seen anyone "from the pest control company come in to spray medication." Resident 159, who showed inspectors a small roach on his bathroom floor, gave the same account.
Resident 19 had taken matters into her own hands. When she spotted a roach in her bathroom, she "stepped on it, then called the nurse," she told inspectors. The nurse called housekeeping to clean up the dead roach from the floor.
She also could not recall seeing an exterminator.
The facility's maintenance director acknowledged the problem but claimed improvement. He told inspectors he had "seen roaches in the past typically in the hallways but has seen improvement since the facility hired an exterminator."
According to the maintenance director, the exterminator visits twice monthly, and he alerts them to recent roach sightings during those visits.
However, the inspection findings suggest the current pest control approach is failing. Inspectors documented live roaches in multiple resident rooms and common areas during their November 25 visit.
The facility's own pest control policy acknowledges the importance of effective treatment. The policy states the facility will contact a pest control company when there is "suspicion or actual problem with pests." If an infestation is identified, "the pest control company will treat the problem."
The policy leaves follow-up treatment decisions to the pest control company's discretion.
Federal inspectors found the facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, a violation that affects every resident in the building. The presence of roaches in resident living spaces poses potential health risks, particularly concerning for elderly residents who may have compromised immune systems.
Resident 159 remained alert and oriented during the inspection, lying in bed "free of pain" when inspectors arrived at 9:53 AM. But his bathroom harbored at least one visible roach, and he had seen others that day.
The conference room incident occurred at noon, as inspectors conducted their review. A small roach landed directly on the conference table, demonstrating how the pest problem extends beyond resident rooms into administrative areas.
Resident 70 appeared "comfortable and free of pain" when inspectors found him sitting on his bed edge, but his matter-of-fact acceptance of the roach infestation suggested a longstanding problem. His comment that seeing roaches everywhere was "nothing" indicates residents have become accustomed to living with pests.
The maintenance director's claim of improvement conflicts with what residents and inspectors observed. While he reported seeing fewer roaches in hallways, the inspection revealed active infestations in resident rooms where people sleep, store personal belongings, and use bathroom facilities.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to maintain pest-free environments to protect resident health and safety. The inspection classified this as a violation with potential for actual harm, affecting the facility's 174 residents who deserve to live without roaches crawling through their personal spaces.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Peterson Park Health Care Ctr from 2025-11-29 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.