Failure to Prevent Misappropriation and Exploitation of Resident Property
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident from misappropriation of property and exploitation. A cognitively intact resident with multiple medical conditions, including diabetes, infection of a left artificial hip, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation, reported giving $1,500 in cash to a staff member, specifically a dietary aide, for the purpose of paying first and last month's rent for an apartment they intended to share. The dietary aide admitted to accepting the money and using it for rent but was unable to provide any receipts or proof that the resident's name was added to the lease. The facility's investigation substantiated that the staff member accepted funds from the resident, which constituted misappropriation and exploitation as defined by facility policy and CMS guidelines. This incident demonstrated a failure to ensure that residents were free from wrongful use of their belongings or money, as required by the facility's abuse prevention policy.