Failure to Identify and Address PTSD Triggers and Assess for Trauma
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide trauma-informed and culturally competent care for two residents with significant histories of trauma and mental health concerns. For one resident with diagnoses including PTSD, anxiety disorder, and depression, the care plan did not include specific PTSD triggers, despite documentation in the social services evaluation that identified triggers such as people, thoughts, and feelings. The care plan only addressed general interventions for mood and anxiety but omitted the individualized triggers that could help staff avoid re-traumatization. This omission was confirmed by the social worker during an interview. For another resident with a history of recent traumatic events, including the loss of a child to suicide and a recent bilateral leg amputation, there was no assessment for PTSD upon admission or during the resident's stay. The resident expressed feelings of sadness and depression and requested to speak with someone, but the social service designee was unaware of the resident's traumatic loss and confirmed that no PTSD assessment had been completed. The facility's policy requires trauma to be identified and addressed in the care plan, including triggers and interventions, but this was not done for these residents.