Resident Exposed to Verbal Abuse by Maintenance Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with chronic pain and major depressive disorder, who was cognitively intact and required assistance with activities of daily living, was subjected to verbal abuse and mistreatment by a maintenance staff member. The incident took place in the facility's parking lot, where the resident and the staff member engaged in a verbal argument that included yelling and the exchange of profanities. Multiple witnesses, including other residents and staff, confirmed the altercation and the use of inappropriate language. The facility's investigation documented that the situation was de-escalated by administrative staff who intervened and separated the individuals involved. Despite the occurrence of the incident, there was no documentation of the event in the resident's electronic health record for the relevant period. Witness statements were collected from staff and bystanders, but a statement from the maintenance staff member involved was not obtained. The facility's policy prohibits any form of resident abuse, including verbal abuse and intimidation, but this policy was not upheld in this instance, resulting in the resident being exposed to verbal mistreatment.