Failure to Implement Abuse and Misappropriation Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its abuse and misappropriation policy for 13 out of 16 sampled residents, as evidenced by interviews, clinical record reviews, and examination of facility reports and policies. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent practices in responding to resident reports of missing money or items, with some staff checking with the business office or searching resident rooms, and others escalating concerns to management or external authorities. One business office staff member reported noticing irregularities in the resident trust account but did not report them due to fear of retaliation, indicating a breakdown in the reporting process. The facility's policy required the development and implementation of protocols to prevent, identify, and investigate theft, exploitation, or misappropriation of resident property, and to report allegations within federally required timeframes. Despite the existence of these policies, the facility did not ensure consistent adherence, as shown by the limited number of residents reported to the state agency compared to the number affected. Interviews with administrative staff confirmed that not all incidents were reported as required, and that the process for investigating and reporting misappropriation was not uniformly followed. The findings indicate that the facility's failure to fully implement its abuse and misappropriation policy could result in continued misappropriation or exploitation of residents.