Merrill Gardens at Kirkland

The facility failed to document a bruise on a resident's arm who was on blood thinners, violating record-keeping requirements for resident monitoring. While the Resident Care Director assessed the bruise twice and instructed staff to monitor it, no documentation was created in the resident's progress notes until after the state inspection. The facility acknowledged the documentation failure, completed corrective action by the deadline, and passed the follow-up inspection with no deficiencies found, demonstrating adequate remediation of the record-keeping gap. No actual harm to the resident occurred, and the bruise was appropriately monitored albeit not documented per regulatory requirements.

Initial inspection on 01/29/2025 identified 14 violations including missing fire drill documentation, improper electrical conditions, extension cord misuse, overdue maintenance on critical fire safety systems (sprinklers, fire alarm, emergency lighting), and incomplete inspection records for fire-rated construction and fire doors. Follow-up inspection on 06/23/2025 confirmed all violations were corrected. The facility demonstrated good response by addressing all deficiencies within approximately five months, though the volume of documentation gaps and maintenance oversights indicates moderate systemic issues with preventive compliance tracking.

The facility failed three consecutive fire marshal inspections due to multiple fire safety deficiencies including non-functioning fire doors across all floors, missing emergency lighting, fire alarm troubles, incomplete smoke detector testing, and missing documentation for required fire drills and inspections. The facility responded appropriately by correcting all physical deficiencies (fire doors, emergency lighting, data room firestop) and providing previously missing documentation for fire drills, annual inspections, and alarm testing. A citation was issued under WAC 388-78A-2040(1) for failure to maintain life safety systems, though all corrections were verified complete by investigation closure.

This routine inspection found multiple operational compliance violations including expired food handler cards for 3 staff, missing background checks for caregivers, incomplete training records (CPR/first aid, specialty training), missing TB tests for 3 caregivers, improper laundry handling procedures risking cross-contamination, hot water temperatures exceeding 120°F in multiple locations (up to 125.8°F), and non-functioning ventilation systems in 14 rooms. The facility promptly corrected most deficiencies during the inspection: staff renewed food handler cards and background checks, completed missing training, and addressed water temperature issues. A follow-up inspection on 06/18/2024 confirmed all deficiencies were corrected and the facility returned to full compliance.

This fire safety inspection revealed multiple severe life-safety violations including 9 fire doors that fail to latch or close properly, 7 non-functional emergency lights throughout the facility, a fire alarm system in trouble status, missing carbon monoxide detection in the laundry room, and inadequate fire protection systems (missing breaker locks, firestop penetrations). Additional violations included missing documentation for required fire drills, smoke detector sensitivity testing, fire door inspections, and kitchen hood cleanings, along with electrical hazards (blocked panel access, extension cords, open junction boxes). The facility's response was minimal, showing only acknowledgment of violations without evidence of corrective actions taken at the time of inspection, and the disapproved status indicates ongoing non-compliance with fundamental fire safety requirements that create immediate risk to residents.

This residential care facility had multiple fire and life safety documentation violations across three inspections (March, June, and September 2023), including missing emergency drill records, incomplete fire alarm and sprinkler system inspections, improperly maintained fire doors, and electrical room safety clearance issues. The facility demonstrated a good but delayed response, requiring two reinspections and formal enforcement warning before achieving full compliance by September 2023. While violations were systemic and involved critical life safety systems, there was no evidence of actual resident harm, and the facility ultimately corrected all deficiencies. The pattern suggests organizational documentation failures rather than active safety threats, though the delayed compliance warranted the State Fire Marshal's escalation to enforcement warning procedures.