Failure to Safeguard and Label Resident Clothing Results in Loss of Personal Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents' clothing items were properly labeled and safeguarded from loss, as required by their own policies and procedures. Multiple residents reported missing clothing items, with one resident stating that several pairs of pants had been missing since their laundry was first sent out, and another resident reporting that their clothes did not return from the laundry. A third resident indicated that clothing items went missing upon admission. Observations revealed that laundry bags and clothing were often not labeled, making it difficult for staff to identify ownership. Staff interviews confirmed that complaints about missing clothing had been received, and that there was no consistent process for labeling clothing or laundry bags. The facility had recently switched to an outside laundry service due to broken washing machines, which coincided with an increase in complaints and grievances about missing clothing. Documentation, including resident council concern forms, meeting reports, grievance forms, and email communication between the administrator and the laundry vendor, further substantiated ongoing issues with missing clothing and unreturned laundry bags. The facility's Personal Effects Policy required prompt investigation and resolution of missing property, but the lack of labeling and tracking contributed to the loss of residents' personal items. Staff interviews indicated that while there was an expectation for clothing and bags to be labeled, this was not consistently done, resulting in unidentifiable clothing and unresolved resident complaints.