Misappropriation of Resident Property and Funds by Staff Member
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a staff member misappropriated a resident's personal belongings and funds. The resident, who had acute respiratory failure with hypercapnia and a cognitive communication deficit, was admitted with personal items including an iPhone and iPad. After experiencing a medical emergency, the resident was transferred to the hospital and did not return, ultimately passing away. The resident's belongings, including the cell phone, remained at the facility following the transfer. Subsequently, the resident's financial Power of Attorney discovered unauthorized financial transactions from the resident's PayPal account, which was accessed via the resident's cell phone. These transactions, totaling approximately $1,735, were traced to a staff member whose contact information matched the PayPal account receiving the funds. The facility's internal investigation confirmed that the staff member had access to the resident's belongings during the period in question. Additionally, there were attempts to change the billing address and request a credit card in the resident's name, further indicating misuse of the resident's property and financial information. The facility's review of staff schedules and interviews revealed that the implicated staff member worked multiple shifts during the relevant period and that another staff member with a matching address was also employed, though no direct involvement was established for the second individual. The facility's abuse policy defined misappropriation as the deliberate misuse or theft of a resident's belongings or money without consent, and the events described met this definition. The deficiency was further compounded by the lack of interviews with other staff, residents, or representatives to determine if additional residents were affected.