Failure to Timely Report Alleged Misappropriation and Notify Law Enforcement
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to submit an initial report of an allegation of misappropriation of a resident's property to the state survey agency within the required 24-hour timeframe and did not notify law enforcement as required. The incident involved a resident with a history of Alzheimer's disease, unspecified psychosis, and hallucinations, who had a moderately impaired cognitive status as indicated by a BIMS score of 12. The resident's responsible party reported via email that the resident's wallet and social security card were missing, and the resident had expressed concerns about people entering rooms and taking items. Facility records showed that a formal grievance was filed regarding the missing items, and the facility conducted interviews with the resident, who at times denied having the wallet at the facility and suggested another family member had possession of it. Despite these interviews and ongoing communication with the responsible party, the facility did not submit the required report to the state agency until several days after the initial allegation was made. Additionally, the facility's documentation and staff interviews confirmed that law enforcement was not contacted regarding the missing wallet and identification cards. The facility's Abuse Prevention Policy required immediate reporting of all alleged violations involving misappropriation of resident property to the state agency and law enforcement, depending on the circumstances. However, the administrator initially determined that the missing wallet, which did not contain money but did include identification cards, did not rise to the level of misappropriation and therefore did not report it promptly. The delay in reporting and failure to notify law enforcement were confirmed through interviews with facility staff and review of facility documentation.