Failure to Investigate and Document Alleged Misappropriation of Resident Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow its policy regarding the investigation and documentation of an alleged misappropriation of a resident's funds. After being notified by a resident's Financial Power of Attorney (POA) about unapproved charges on the resident's debit card, the Administrator only interviewed the resident and the family, without interviewing other staff or residents as required by policy. There was no documentation regarding when the debit card was last in the resident's possession or when it was discovered missing. The facility's policy required a thorough investigation, including interviews with all staff and residents and written statements from involved parties, but these steps were not completed. The resident involved had no cognitive impairment and required supervision for activities of daily living, with diagnoses including anxiety, major depression, unsteadiness, diabetes, and stroke. The resident kept the debit card in a purse inside an unlocked dresser drawer. Bank statements showed multiple unauthorized charges over several months, totaling $348.23. Staff interviewed were unaware the resident had a debit card, and the Sheriff's office was notified of the missing card. The facility census at the time was 27.