Resident Exposed to Verbal Abuse by Dietary Manager
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a history of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder, and with intact cognition, was not protected from verbal abuse by a staff member. The incident began when the resident requested assistance from the certified dietary manager to have their cup washed. The dietary manager responded by asking the resident to wait, which led to the resident becoming upset and using profanity toward the staff member. The certified dietary manager then reciprocated by using profanity toward the resident. During the altercation, the resident threw a cup toward the employee, and staff intervened to stop the situation. No physical injuries were noted to the resident at the time. Further investigation, including interviews and review of facility camera footage, confirmed that verbal abuse occurred. The resident reported that the certified dietary manager grabbed their hand and hit their arm with the door, describing the interaction as annoying and rude. A dietary aide who witnessed the event confirmed that both the resident and the dietary manager used inappropriate language, with the resident initiating the use of profanity. The incident was substantiated as abuse following the facility's investigation.