Failure to Investigate and Report Misappropriation of Resident Property
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to conduct a thorough investigation into an allegation of misappropriation of property for a resident who had moderate cognitive impairment and was admitted with diagnoses including hypertension and fractures. Documentation and interviews revealed that the resident reported missing money, which was documented as a grievance, and the police were called. However, there was no evidence that the required 5-day investigation report was completed or submitted within the required timeframe. The facility's grievance log confirmed the concern was recorded, but the investigation process did not follow the facility's policy, which requires prompt and thorough investigation, including interviews with witnesses and staff on all shifts, and documentation of the investigation and its results. Staff interviews indicated that training on abuse, neglect, and misappropriation is conducted regularly, and staff are aware of the requirement to report such incidents immediately. Despite this, the administrator confirmed that she was not present when the incident was reported and that the facility's procedures for safeguarding resident property were not fully followed. The facility policy mandates that all allegations of misappropriation be promptly investigated, but in this case, the investigation was incomplete, and the required documentation was not submitted, potentially allowing further misappropriation to occur during the investigation period.