Failure to Resolve Grievance and Provide Written Decision Regarding Missing Resident Belongings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to resolve an ongoing grievance regarding missing personal belongings for a resident with moderately impaired cognition and a diagnosis of non-Alzheimer's dementia. The resident's family member reported missing items, specifically a shirt and four pairs of sleep bottoms, through a grievance form. Although the facility documented that the items were located and sent to laundry for labeling, subsequent interviews and observations revealed that the specific pajama pants remained missing. The family member continued to report the items as missing, and observations confirmed that the pants were not found in the resident's room, laundry, or among the resident's belongings. Despite the facility's policy requiring a written decision to be provided to the resident or their representative at the conclusion of a grievance investigation, the family member reported not receiving a written summary of the resolution. The facility's documentation indicated the grievance was marked as resolved, but the family member expressed dissatisfaction and confirmed that the missing items had not been returned or accounted for, and no written decision was provided as required by policy.