Failure to Safeguard Resident Personal Property
Penalty
Summary
A resident with anxiety and reduced mobility, who was cognitively intact, reported the loss of six packs of cigarettes from a locked storage box at the nurses' station. Facility policy required residents to store smoking materials in these locked boxes, with residents keeping a key and staff assisting with access. However, it was observed that the keys distributed to residents could open multiple boxes, compromising the security of personal property. The resident expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the locks and declined to store cigarettes at the nurses' station due to this issue. Staff interviews and observations confirmed that the drawer containing the cigarette storage boxes was not consistently kept locked, and a master key capable of opening multiple boxes was accessible in the same drawer. The facility's process for tracking and safeguarding residents' smoking materials was insufficient, as evidenced by the missing cigarettes and the lack of evidence regarding their existence. These lapses in securing residents' property led to the deficiency cited in the report.