Failure to Safeguard Resident's Personal Belongings After Hospitalization
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to ensure a resident's right to retain personal possessions following a hospitalization. The resident, who was cognitively intact and dependent on ventilator and personal care, was hospitalized for approximately one month. Upon return, the resident and their family discovered that personal belongings, including a statue and a small decorated tree, were missing from the resident's room. The family reported the missing items to facility staff, but the items could not be located. The Housekeeping Manager confirmed that some items, such as a journal and devotional book, were found and returned, but the statue and tree were not recovered. Facility staff interviews revealed that housekeeping boxed and labeled resident belongings and stored them on the third floor when a resident left the facility. Items stored for 30 days or more were discarded, following instructions from a previous administrator, due to storage space limitations. The Social Services Director and Social Worker did not recall contacting the resident's family to notify them about the impending disposal of the belongings. The facility did not have a policy regarding the disposal of resident personal items, and the Regional Clinical Director was unaware of the 30-day discard practice.