Failure to Protect Resident from Abuse by Family Member
Penalty
Summary
A resident with vascular dementia and severe cognitive impairment, as indicated by a BIMS score of 3 out of 15, experienced an incident of physical abuse during a family visit. The resident was involved in an altercation with a family member, during which the family member became frustrated, threw a television remote at the resident, and then struck the resident on the forehead. The incident was observed and reported by facility staff, and the resident confirmed that the family member had hit him. The facility's abuse prevention policy affirms the right of residents to be free from abuse, neglect, or mistreatment and outlines the facility's responsibility to establish a secure environment. Despite this policy, the facility failed to protect the resident from abuse by a family member during a visit. The event was documented in the resident's progress notes, and the incident was confirmed through interviews with staff and review of the resident's medical record.