Failure to Investigate and Protect Residents After Abuse Allegation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement its Abuse Prohibition Policy after an allegation of staff-to-resident verbal abuse was reported. According to the facility's policy, any employee accused of abuse must be immediately suspended from resident contact pending investigation, and a thorough investigation must be conducted. However, after a resident reported that a CNA yelled at and belittled her when she requested assistance to the restroom, the facility did not suspend the CNA or initiate an investigation. The administrator-in-training confirmed awareness of the allegation but took no action to remove the CNA from resident care or to investigate the incident. The resident involved was cognitively intact and reported feeling verbally abused and belittled by the CNA's actions and words. Documentation showed that the CNA continued to work regular shifts and had contact with all residents during the period following the allegation. The facility's failure to follow its own abuse policy and to protect residents from the alleged perpetrator affected all 78 residents in the facility.