Failure to Safeguard and Track Resident Personal Belongings
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that resident possessions were maintained securely and treated with respect, resulting in the loss of personal items belonging to three residents. The incident began when a lockbox containing resident belongings was misplaced during the cleaning of the social service office for a new hire. Staff involved in the cleaning process, including a registered nurse and housekeeping, did not maintain a log of the items in the lockbox, nor did they verify the contents with residents or witnesses before securing the items. The lockbox, which contained items such as a wallet, checkbook, and legal paperwork, was last seen placed among medical records and subsequently could not be located. The families of the affected residents were notified of the missing items, and in one case, the family contacted the police to report the loss. The facility did not initiate contact with law enforcement or obtain a police report until prompted during the investigation. Statements from staff involved in the cleaning and removal of items were incomplete, with no witness statements obtained from all staff present during the incident. Housekeeping staff reported removing trash and boxes but did not recall discarding a lockbox, and the administrator confirmed there was no evidence to show the lockbox was thrown away. Documentation revealed that there was no established process for tracking or safeguarding resident items placed in the lockbox, and no log or inventory was maintained. The lack of communication between outgoing and incoming social service staff contributed to the oversight, as the new designee was unaware of the lockbox and its contents. The facility's failure to maintain secure handling and documentation of resident possessions led to the loss of personal items for three residents, with no clear resolution or recovery of the missing property.