Misappropriation of Resident Funds by Social Service Designee
Penalty
Summary
A Social Service Designee (SSD) used a resident's bank card to make unauthorized purchases for personal use, totaling approximately $2,300, without the resident's consent. The resident, who was cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 13 and had diagnoses including hemiplegia and depression, discovered the discrepancy after reviewing his bank statements. The SSD admitted to the unauthorized transactions and arranged to repay the resident in installments. The incident was not reported to facility management for about two weeks, as the resident initially chose to see if the SSD would return the money rather than report the issue. The Director of Nursing (DON) and Administrator were unaware of the situation until it was brought to their attention by a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) after the resident expressed concerns about his Social Security Income. The facility's policy prohibits misappropriation of resident property by staff. The resident reported feeling hurt and betrayed by the SSD's actions but did not wish to pursue legal action as long as the money was returned. The incident was documented in the resident's progress notes and discussed in an Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meeting.