Failure to Provide Resident Access to Personal Funds After Hours and on Weekends
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents had access to their personal funds after hours and on weekends, as required by regulation. Observations revealed that the business office, which managed resident trust accounts, was only open Monday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and was closed on weekends and holidays. A posted sign outside the business office confirmed these limited hours. Interviews with three residents indicated that they were unable to access their funds during non-banking hours or on weekends, and some were not aware of any process to request funds outside of posted hours. The facility managed 53 resident trust accounts at the time of the survey. Staff interviews confirmed that only business office staff had access to residents' personal funds, and there was no system in place for residents to obtain funds during weekends or after hours. The Business Office Manager stated that residents or their families would need to make advance requests to access funds on weekends, but residents were not informed of this option. Other staff, including a receptionist and an LVN, reported that they would instruct residents to wait until the business office reopened if funds were requested outside of posted hours. The Executive Director acknowledged that no system existed for weekend access to personal funds, and the Director of Nursing expected staff to follow federal guidelines regarding resident access to funds.