Misappropriation of Resident Food Debit Cards by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure residents' right to be free from misappropriation of property for five residents who participated in a food debit card program. The program, funded by an insurance company, provided eligible residents with a $100 monthly benefit to purchase food items. Some residents kept their cards, while others had them stored in the business office, where staff could access them to shop on behalf of the residents. The facility had a policy requiring the cards to be securely stored and only accessible by the resident, their responsible party, or the community Life Enrichment Director (LED), with a sign-out log and receipts maintained for all transactions. Despite these policies, the Business Office Manager (BOM) admitted to using the food debit cards of multiple residents for personal purchases on several occasions. Receipts and interviews confirmed that the BOM made unauthorized purchases using the cards of at least five residents, including items not intended for the residents' benefit. The purchases were made on multiple dates, and the total amount misappropriated was $670.22. The BOM acknowledged that she used the cards for her own benefit, particularly at the end of the month when unspent funds would not roll over, and admitted that she knew her actions were wrong and constituted theft. The residents affected had varying degrees of cognitive impairment, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and intellectual disabilities, with some requiring supervision or assistance with daily living activities. The misappropriation was discovered after a staff member attempted to use a resident's card and found it had insufficient funds, prompting a review of recent transactions and subsequent investigation. The facility's failure to adhere to its own policies and procedures regarding the secure handling and authorized use of resident food cards led to the misappropriation of resident property.