Failure to Notify Resident of Increased Financial Responsibility
Summary
The facility failed to inform a resident and their representative of an increase in their monthly financial responsibility before charging the updated amount to the debit card on file. The resident, who was admitted with diagnoses including a left hip fracture, osteoporosis, and severe obesity, had intact cognition and required assistance for mobility and personal care. The admission agreement stipulated that residents would be notified of any rate changes at least 30 days in advance. However, the facility received notification from a State Agency about the change in the resident's care cost participation amount, but did not inform the resident or their representative before charging the increased amount. The Business Office Manager admitted to altering the Credit Card Authorization Form using correcting tape to reflect the new amount without obtaining agreement from the resident or their representative. Attempts to notify the representative via phone were unsuccessful, and no written notification was provided. The former and current administrators acknowledged the facility's responsibility to notify residents and representatives of billing changes and stated that a new authorization form should have been obtained. The failure to properly notify and obtain agreement for the increased charge was identified as a deficiency.
Penalty
Resources
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The facility did not review Resident Rights during Resident Council meetings for several months, as confirmed by resident and staff interviews and review of meeting minutes. Multiple residents who attended these meetings were unaware of where to find information about their rights, and the omission was attributed to a change in agenda forms by the Activities Director.
The facility did not provide ongoing communication about resident rights during Resident Council meetings, as confirmed by a review of meeting minutes and interviews with a resident and the Activity Director. This omission had the potential to affect all residents in the facility.
Failure to Review Resident Rights During Resident Council Meetings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were informed of their Resident Rights, as required by policy. Review of Resident Council meeting minutes over an 11-month period showed that Resident Rights were not discussed during these meetings. Interviews with several residents confirmed that they were not aware of where to find information about their rights and that these rights had not been reviewed during Resident Council sessions. The Activities Director acknowledged that Resident Rights were omitted from the meetings due to a change in the agenda forms. Facility policy indicated that Resident Rights should be reviewed during Resident Council meetings, but this was not done, affecting multiple residents who attended these meetings.
Failure to Communicate Resident Rights During Council Meetings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide ongoing communication to residents regarding their rights, as evidenced by a review of Resident Council meeting minutes over a period of several months, which showed no documentation of resident rights being discussed. An interview with a resident confirmed that staff did not review resident rights during Resident Council meetings. Additionally, the Activity Director, who had been conducting the meetings since September 2024, acknowledged that she was not discussing resident rights with residents and only became aware of the requirement to do so in March 2025. This lack of communication regarding resident rights had the potential to affect all residents in the facility, which had a census of 44 at the time of the survey.
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