Staff Misappropriation of Resident Funds
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a staff member, S7 Rehab Tech, misappropriated a resident's funds by agreeing to hold a large sum of money for the resident and subsequently failing to safeguard or return the funds. The resident, who had intact cognition as indicated by a BIMS score of 15 and diagnoses including cervical spine fusion, seizures, quadriplegia, and depression, received a settlement check and entrusted S7 Rehab Tech with approximately $12,000 in cash. The staff member was supposed to distribute portions of the money to the resident's family and hold the remainder for the resident, as per the resident's instructions. After the money was given to S7 Rehab Tech, the staff member reported to the resident that the funds were stolen from her home during a break-in. S7 Rehab Tech did not file a police report regarding the alleged theft and did not return the funds to the resident. The staff member admitted to holding the money and acknowledged that she should not have agreed to the arrangement. The resident attempted to recover the funds and communicate with S7 Rehab Tech, but the staff member avoided contact and blocked the resident's phone number. The facility's investigation, prompted by a rumor and subsequent interviews, confirmed that the staff member had misappropriated the resident's funds. The staff member admitted to the actions during interviews with facility administration and the rehab director. The incident was substantiated as misappropriation of property/funds, as the staff member wrongfully used the resident's money without proper consent or protection, in violation of facility policy and resident rights.