Staff-to-Resident Verbal and Emotional Abuse Incident
Penalty
Summary
A staff-to-resident verbal and emotional abuse incident occurred involving a resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, muscle weakness, repeated falls, and dependence on staff for all activities of daily living. The resident, who used a wheelchair and relied on a stuffed bear as a coping mechanism, was subjected to abusive language by a Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA). The CNA forcibly took the resident's bear away against her wishes and called her a derogatory name. This incident was witnessed by another CNA, who reported the event. The resident's care plan required staff to provide structured routines, positive feedback, and activities compatible with her abilities, emphasizing respect and dignity. Despite these directives and the facility's policy prohibiting all forms of abuse, the staff member failed to uphold these standards, resulting in verbal and emotional abuse. The facility's policy defined mental abuse to include verbal conduct causing humiliation or agitation, which was directly violated in this incident.