Failure to Protect Resident from Exploitation and Misappropriation of Property
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident reported that $611.00 was taken from her following interactions with a medication aide (MA) and the MA's family member. The resident, who had diagnoses including peripheral arterial disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications, and essential hypertension, was cognitively intact at the time of the incident. While residing at the facility, the resident befriended the MA, who obtained her personal phone number. After the resident was discharged, the MA contacted her regarding renting an apartment, and the MA's family member drove the resident to the bank to withdraw $611.00 for an apartment deposit. The resident provided the money and received a signed note from the MA's family member acknowledging the deposit. Subsequently, the apartment arrangement fell through, and the resident was unable to recover her funds despite repeated attempts to contact the MA. The administrator (ADM) was made aware of the incident but did not take further action, stating that the event occurred after the resident's discharge and did not believe the facility was responsible. The MA admitted to sharing the resident's phone number with her family member and acknowledged the relationship between her family member and the resident. The facility was unable to provide a policy related to the confidentiality of resident information or employee violations when requested. The report documents that the facility failed to protect the resident from exploitation and did not ensure the resident's right to be free from misappropriation of property.