Failure to Provide Access to Grievance Forms and Anonymous Submission
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide residents with access to grievance forms and the opportunity to file grievances anonymously, as required by regulation. One resident reported being told by a nurse practitioner that he was dying and that his kidney function was severely compromised, which was later contradicted by hospital staff. The resident expressed anger and distress over the incident and attempted to seek answers from facility staff but was unable to obtain any. He stated he was unaware of the existence of grievance forms and had not seen any available in the facility. The resident also indicated that his wife would have preferred to file a grievance anonymously if given the opportunity. Observations and staff interviews revealed that grievance forms and boxes were not present in common areas or on the units, and staff were unable to locate the forms when requested. Some staff members were unsure of the process for handling grievances or how residents could file them anonymously. The facility's policy and resident rights documents did not provide instructions for anonymous grievance submission. A review of the facility's grievance log showed no record of grievances filed by the resident, including after he returned from the hospital and voiced his concerns.