Failure to Protect Resident Property Due to Broken Cabinet Lock
Penalty
Summary
A resident reported that personal items, including body wash, shampoo, and $12.00 in cash, were stolen from their room. The resident stated that the lock on their bedside cabinet had been broken for approximately one to two months and that repeated notifications to nursing staff about the issue did not result in any action. During observations, the surveyor noted that the resident's bedside cabinet drawer was open, with a bank envelope containing money and a hearing aid visible and unsecured, and that the resident was unable to lock the drawer. On a subsequent observation, the drawer was again found ajar while the resident was not present in the room. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that the broken lock failed to protect the resident's property and that the resident could not file a grievance without staff assistance.