Failure to Prevent Verbal Abuse of a Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with multiple chronic conditions, including spinal stenosis, COPD, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, congestive heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, was subjected to verbal abuse by a staff member. The resident's medical record and care plan did not include documentation or planning for abuse prevention. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 14 out of 15 and required assistance with mobility, reported that a staff member yelled at her, was abrasive, and refused her requests to change clothes in the bathroom and to eat breakfast in her room. Another resident corroborated that the staff member had yelled at the resident and rushed her, telling her to hurry up. The staff member in question had previously been involved in another verbal abuse allegation. Interviews with staff and residents revealed ongoing complaints about staff behavior, including being rushed and forced to do things, as well as the manner in which staff spoke to residents. The facility's policy states that residents have the right to be free from all forms of abuse, including verbal abuse, but this was not upheld in this instance. The lack of a care plan addressing abuse and the repeated nature of complaints contributed to the deficiency.