Staff-to-Resident Verbal Abuse in Dining Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a staff member failed to protect a resident from verbal abuse. The resident involved had vascular dementia, generalized anxiety disorder, and a history of stroke, with moderate cognitive impairment and a need for total assistance with activities of daily living. The resident exhibited challenging behaviors, including throwing incontinence briefs, smearing stool, unplugging his feeding tube, and attempting to leave the dining room without assistance. On the date of the incident, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) directed explicit and derogatory language toward the resident in the presence of other residents and staff. Multiple witnesses, including another staff member, a dietary aide, and residents, reported that the CNA called the resident 'stupid,' told him he was acting like a toddler, and stated that if he wanted to act like a child, he would be treated as one. The CNA also made the resident apologize to everyone in the dining room for his behavior. Witnesses described the CNA as frustrated and making fun of the resident, with some stating the CNA spoke to the resident as if he were an animal. The incident was reported by a visitor and corroborated by several interviews with staff and residents. The facility's policy defined verbal abuse as the use of disparaging or derogatory language toward residents, regardless of their ability to comprehend. The actions of the CNA were found to be in violation of this policy, constituting staff-to-resident verbal abuse.