Abuse Policy Lacks Required Components and Protections
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure its abuse policy addressed all required regulatory components, as determined by a review of the policy and interviews with staff. The policy lacked a date of initiation or review and, while it included definitions of various types of abuse and some signs of abuse, it did not address misappropriation of resident property. Additionally, the policy did not include provisions for abuse prevention, staff training, or coordination with the Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) program. The reporting section of the policy did not meet federal requirements, as it did not specify that allegations of abuse must be reported immediately, but not later than two hours after the allegation is made, to the nursing home administrator and other officials. Furthermore, the policy failed to address the prohibition and prevention of retaliation against individuals reporting suspected abuse. Observations throughout the facility, including employee break areas, revealed that there was no posted signage informing employees of their rights related to protection from retaliation for reporting suspected crimes. The nursing home administrator confirmed the absence of such signage and acknowledged that the abuse policy provided to staff was incomplete in these areas.