Failure to Protect Resident from Physical Abuse by Another Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and a history of delirium was physically struck in the face by another resident who had no cognitive impairment. The incident took place in the hallway near the nurse's station, where the resident with cognitive impairment was in her wheelchair and was cut off by the other resident, also in a wheelchair, who then hit her. The event was witnessed by the Human Resource Director (HRD), who immediately separated the two residents and notified the appropriate staff. The altercation was also captured on facility video surveillance, confirming the physical abuse. The facility's policy on abuse prevention requires protection of residents from abuse by anyone, including other residents. Despite this policy, the physical altercation occurred, resulting in a failure to protect the resident from abuse. Interviews with both residents and the HRD confirmed the incident, and the video evidence corroborated the sequence of events. The resident who was struck did not recall the incident, while the resident who struck her stated it was in self-defense, though he could not recall the exact date.