Federal inspectors found multiple missing entries on the temperature log attached to the refrigerator in the room of an alert resident who had previously complained about food spoilage. The resident told inspectors that staff "always says the temperature is at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, but it is never recorded."
The resident explained that a complaint had been filed earlier about the refrigerator becoming unplugged from the wall outlet, causing food to spoil. "Housekeeping should come every day to check the temperature in the refrigerator to prevent the food getting spoiled," the resident said.
When inspectors observed the refrigerator on December 30, they found it set to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and properly plugged into the wall outlet. The refrigerator appeared clean and organized with no odors. However, the daily temperature log showed multiple dates in December without recorded temperatures or staff initials.
The next day, inspectors returned to find the refrigerator operating at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, still clean and organized. No temperature had been recorded on the log that day either.
The registered nurse responsible for the unit acknowledged that housekeeping was supposed to ensure refrigerator temperatures stayed around 39-40 degrees Fahrenheit and record the information daily on the attached log. When asked what could happen if temperatures weren't documented, the nurse simply repeated that temperatures "should be checked and documented daily."
The housekeeping director was more direct about the risks. She confirmed that housekeeping staff were responsible for keeping refrigerators clean, sanitized, organized, and documenting temperatures every day. The refrigerator should maintain approximately 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit, she said.
"The food can get contaminated if the temperature is not at the expected temperature range," the housekeeping director told inspectors. "The temperature should be recorded daily to avoid exposure to residents getting sick for eating potential spoiled food."
A housekeeping worker assigned to monitor the resident's refrigerator said she was responsible for keeping personal refrigerators clean and documenting temperatures daily. She acknowledged the temperature should stay around 39-40 degrees Fahrenheit.
When inspectors asked what could happen if temperatures weren't recorded daily, the housekeeping worker said, "The food will get contaminated causing the resident to get sick."
Facility policy requires that perishable food requiring refrigeration be stored at proper temperatures. Each refrigerator must have a thermometer to ensure temperatures stay between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and "refrigerator temps will be checked and documented daily," according to the policy.
Another facility policy specifically addresses food brought by family and visitors, stating that "facility staff will monitor resident rooms, resident personal refrigerators, unit pantries as well as facility refrigerators and freezers for food and beverage disposal needs for safety."
The inspection occurred after a complaint was filed about the facility. Despite the resident appearing comfortable and showing no signs of distress, the documentation failures represented a breakdown in basic food safety protocols that staff acknowledged could lead to resident illness.
The resident's refrigerator was functioning properly during both inspection visits, maintaining appropriate temperatures. However, the lack of daily documentation meant staff had no record of whether temperatures had fluctuated outside the safe range on the numerous undocumented days throughout December.
The violation affected few residents, but highlighted gaps in routine safety monitoring that facility policies were designed to prevent. Staff at multiple levels understood the importance of daily temperature documentation, yet the system failed to ensure consistent implementation of this basic food safety requirement.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Continental Nursing & Rehab Center from 2026-01-02 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.