Failure to Safeguard and Replace Resident Property During Room Transfer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect the personal property of two residents, resulting in the loss and theft of their belongings during a unit relocation. Both residents, who were cognitively intact as indicated by their BIMS scores of 15, were instructed by a unit manager to leave their additional items in their former room due to limited space in their new room. The items were packed, labeled, and left in the old room, but no inventory sheet was provided to the residents, nor were they instructed to create one. Subsequently, staff members, acting on instructions reportedly from the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA), cleared out the room and disposed of the residents' belongings in the facility dumpster. Some staff also took items for personal use, believing they had permission from the NHA. Multiple staff interviews revealed a lack of a formal process for inventorying resident belongings during room transfers or unit shutdowns. Staff members involved in the removal of items stated they were told by supervisors and the NHA to clear out the room and dispose of its contents, with some being told they could take items if desired. The Director of Social Services and the Director of Maintenance/Laundry/Housekeeping both confirmed they were unaware of any established process for safeguarding or inventorying resident property during such transitions. The residents discovered their labeled bins empty and later found their belongings had been discarded. Despite the residents submitting detailed grievance forms listing the missing items, including clothing, electronics, personal effects, and sentimental items, the facility did not replace any of the lost property as of the time of the report. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that no items had been replaced. The facility's failure to safeguard resident property and to follow its own policy regarding inventory and protection of personal belongings led to the loss and theft of the residents' possessions.