Failure to Timely Disburse and Account for Deceased Resident's Personal Funds
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the personal funds of a deceased resident were provided to the resident's legal representative within the required timeframe. After the resident, who had severe cognitive impairment due to dementia, passed away, the legal representative made multiple attempts to obtain information and the remaining funds from the facility. Despite repeated calls and requests, the facility did not provide timely callbacks, accurate information about the account balance, or an itemized breakdown of the funds. The legal representative received checks at different times, but these were not accompanied by the required itemized statements or invoices, and in one instance, an invoice was sent requesting payment without a breakdown of the amount due. Interviews with facility staff, including the DON, SSD, and BOM, confirmed that the facility's policy required refunds and final accountings to be processed and provided within 30 days of a resident's death, and that requests for itemized statements should be fulfilled immediately. However, the facility did not adhere to these policies, resulting in delays and lack of transparency regarding the resident's personal funds. The deficiency was identified through interviews, record reviews, and policy examination during a complaint investigation.