Failure to Timely Report Alleged Sexual Abuse to State Authorities
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to report an allegation of visitor-to-resident sexual abuse to the State Survey Agency (SSA) within the required timeframe. A resident, who had diagnoses including aftercare following joint replacement surgery, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder, and was assessed as having intact cognition and decision-making capacity, reported to the Social Services Director (SSD) that a transportation company personnel inappropriately touched her face and made inappropriate comments. This report was made to the SSD on 7/3/2025, who then notified the Director of Nursing (DON) and the Administrator (ADM). Despite the facility's policy requiring that any allegation of abuse be reported to the SSA within two hours, the Abuse Coordinator did not report the incident until 27 days after the initial allegation. Interviews confirmed that the DON and SSD were aware of the policy and the requirement for timely reporting. The delay in reporting the allegation constituted a failure to follow established procedures for abuse reporting.