Failure to Protect Resident from Misappropriation of Funds by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A facility failed to protect a resident with severe cognitive impairment from misappropriation of funds by a staff member. The incident involved the resident providing a staff member with a signed blank check for a purchase, which the staff member then altered and cashed for a significantly higher amount than agreed upon. The staff member also obtained a second check from the resident, which was similarly altered for a higher amount. Photocopies of the altered checks were obtained by the facility, and the staff member admitted to making up the prices and being unsure of the amounts received. The resident's family discovered the financial discrepancies and reported them to the facility. The staff member involved acknowledged selling items to the resident and admitted to not knowing the actual value of the items sold. The staff member also stated they were unaware of the resident's vulnerable status due to dementia. The facility's review of the incident confirmed the misappropriation of funds from the resident's account.