Failure to Timely File Grievance for Missing Resident Belongings
Penalty
Summary
A resident who was admitted to the facility with no cognitive impairment, as indicated by a BIMS score of 14, reported not receiving her clean clothes for almost a month. The resident stated during interviews that she had not had her laundry returned in 3 to 4 weeks and was wearing clothing that did not belong to her. The issue was not known to the Regional Social Worker until it was brought up during the survey, at which point the Social Worker began to investigate the missing clothing. Further investigation revealed that the previous social worker at the resident's prior facility confirmed the resident left with all her belongings, contradicting the documentation at the current facility that stated she arrived with none. There was no inventory sheet found in the resident's chart to verify her belongings upon admission. The grievance process for the missing clothing was not initiated until after the issue was raised by surveyors, and the grievance remained incomplete several days later.