Legacy on 10th Avenue: Kitchen Sanitation Failures - KS
The trays had dried chili and cinnamon rolls caked onto them. They had been there since the previous day's meals. Nobody had cleaned them.
The floors were sticky. Tiles were missing near the dishwasher. The dishwasher sink had standing water in it because, a staff member explained, the garbage disposal was backed up. The steam table had dried food on its surface and a dark brown substance that had run down the front of it. Underneath the steam table, inspectors found grease and food residue. A stainless-steel counter nearby had dried food spilled down its side, and underneath it sat brown serving trays coated in a dried white substance.
The bowls and plates on the shelves were not stored inverted, leaving their surfaces exposed.
The facility serves 54 residents.
Inside the two-door refrigerator in the kitchen prep area, inspectors found an opened bag of sliced turkey with no date on it. The turkey was dripping juices onto the shelves below it. In a single-door freezer, an opened box of chocolate chip cookie dough sat exposed to open air. In the refrigerator in the serving area, inspectors found chocolate pudding with no label and no date, a bag of canned fruit, and small bowls of fruit, also unlabeled and undated.
Dietary Staff BB, identified in the report only by those initials, told inspectors that all foods should be dated and labeled, that the steam table and counters should be cleaned after each meal, that dishes should be inverted, and that all dishes should be washed and put away rather than left overnight. She knew what the standards were. The kitchen did not reflect them.
She also told inspectors that the ovens on the stove did not work. Staff had been using the convection oven instead. Maintenance had been working on ordering parts, she said.
The kitchen door was propped open during the inspection.
An administrator, identified as Administrative Staff A, told inspectors at 12:21 p.m. that same day that she was unaware the kitchen was not clean. She said her expectation was that all staff follow policies and procedures. She attributed some of the problems to employee turnover in the kitchen over the previous six months.
The facility's own food storage policy, which carried no date, stated that foods would be received and stored in a way that complies with safe food handling practices. Its sanitation policy, also undated, stated the food service area would be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner.
When inspectors returned on March 31 for a recheck, some things had changed. The garbage disposal had been plunged and was working again. Dietary Staff BB said she would get a thermometer for the milk cooler and find a container for the ice scoop.
The ice scoop had been left sitting directly on top of the ice machine.
There was still no thermometer in the milk cooler.
The inspection was classified as a complaint survey. CMS rated the harm level as minimal harm or potential for actual harm, and noted the violations affected many residents. The facility's plan of correction is available through the nursing home or the state survey agency.
What the inspection captured was a kitchen where the gap between written policy and daily practice was visible on every surface, in every unlabeled container, in every tray left sitting overnight. The administrator learned the kitchen was in that condition from federal inspectors, not from her own staff.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Legacy On 10th Avenue from 2026-03-31 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 17, 2026 · Our methodology
LEGACY ON 10TH AVENUE in TOPEKA, KS was cited for violations during a health inspection on March 31, 2026.
The trays had dried chili and cinnamon rolls caked onto them.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at LEGACY ON 10TH AVENUE?
- The trays had dried chili and cinnamon rolls caked onto them.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in TOPEKA, KS, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from LEGACY ON 10TH AVENUE or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 175113.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check LEGACY ON 10TH AVENUE's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.