Failure to Prevent and Report Financial Exploitation of a Resident by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that services provided to a resident met professional standards of practice when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) and the CNA's friend solicited and received money from a resident. The resident, who was cognitively intact but totally dependent on staff for most activities of daily living due to quadriplegia, diabetes mellitus, and anemia, lent $3,000 to the CNA's friend, of which only $200 was repaid. The incident was not reported by the CNA, despite facility policies requiring staff to report suspected exploitation, theft, or misappropriation of resident property. Interviews with other CNAs and the social service designee confirmed that asking for money from a resident is considered inappropriate and constitutes financial abuse. The facility became aware of the situation when the resident's next of kin reported the financial transaction. The facility's policies and procedures, reviewed prior to the incident, clearly outlined expectations for staff to report such incidents and to uphold ethical standards in their interactions with residents.