Failure to Provide Timely Access to Resident Personal Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor residents' rights to manage their personal financial affairs by restricting access to personal funds accounts. Three residents with varying cognitive abilities and medical conditions, including quadriplegia, anxiety, depression, chronic pain, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, reported being unable to withdraw funds from their accounts outside of posted banking hours, which were limited to Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Residents were not able to access their funds at night or on weekends, and in some cases, were told they could not withdraw any money for extended periods. Interviews with facility staff confirmed that residents' access to their personal funds was limited due to posted banking hours and ongoing difficulties related to a change in facility ownership, which affected the facility's ability to access bank accounts. The facility also imposed withdrawal limits based on available cash on hand, and if cash was unavailable, residents had to wait approximately 24 hours for a check to be generated and cashed. The facility did not have a specific personal funds policy, but the Resident's Rights Policy stated that residents have the right to manage their financial affairs.