Failure to Protect Resident from Verbal and Mental Abuse by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident from verbal and mental abuse, as evidenced by an incident involving a certified nurse assistant (CNA) and a resident with diagnoses including hyperlipidemia and mood disorder, who lacked the mental capacity to make medical decisions. During the incident, a CNA was observed by another staff member yelling at the resident and threatening physical harm, stating, "If you hit me I'm gonna F . you up," while picking up a chair. The resident acknowledged a loud verbal exchange but reported feeling safe and voiced no complaints at the time of the interview. No visible injuries or signs of distress were observed during the assessment. The facility's policies clearly prohibit verbal abuse, intimidation, or threats from staff and require immediate reporting of such incidents. Despite these policies, the incident occurred, and the facility's internal investigation substantiated the occurrence of verbal and mental abuse. The deficiency was identified through staff interviews, resident interviews, and review of facility records and policies.