Failure to Prevent Resident-to-Resident Physical Abuse
Penalty
Summary
A resident with a history of violent behavior, schizophrenia, and schizoaffective disorder physically attacked another resident in the dining room. The incident occurred when the aggressor confronted the other resident about seating, and after a brief interaction, ran towards the resident and struck them in the face, resulting in both residents falling to the floor. The assaulted resident sustained a bruise over the right eye and required hospital evaluation. Staff members, including an LPN and a CNA, were present in the dining room at the time of the incident but were unable to intervene before the assault occurred. The resident who committed the assault had a documented diagnosis of violent behavior, but staff reported they did not anticipate physical aggression towards others. The facility's abuse prevention policy was in place, but the event still occurred, resulting in physical harm to a resident. The incident was substantiated as abuse by the facility's Director of Nursing. Both residents were sent to the hospital following the event, and the aggressor was not present in the facility at the time of the report.