Failure to Timely Resolve Resident Grievance Regarding Missing Property
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to respond in a timely manner to a resident's grievance regarding missing property. According to the facility's grievance policy, grievances are to be addressed within five days of receipt, and the concerned party is to be informed of the resolution. A cognitively intact resident with a diagnosis of diabetes reported missing money from their wallet, specifying the denominations and amount believed to be missing. Staff, with the resident's permission, inspected the wallet and confirmed the discrepancy in the amount present. During the investigation, staff determined that theft was ruled out due to inconsistent statements from the resident, and the resident was offered the option to secure their remaining money. Despite this, the resident was not informed in a timely manner about whether the missing money would be reimbursed. Staff communication regarding the resolution was lacking, as one staff member was unsure about reimbursement and another did not communicate findings to the resident, assuming reimbursement would occur. The administrator acknowledged that the grievance policy was not followed, as the resident was not notified of the resolution within the required timeframe.