Failure to Protect Residents from Financial Abuse and Exploitation by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect two residents from financial abuse, manipulation, and exploitation by an Activity Assistant (AA J). The first resident, who was cognitively intact and had multiple medical conditions including osteomyelitis, diabetes, and bipolar disorder, was manipulated by AA J into giving her debit card and PIN. AA J withdrew money from the resident's account on multiple occasions, keeping a portion for herself and failing to provide receipts as required by facility policy. Additionally, AA J solicited money from the resident under the pretense of providing post-discharge services and for a going-away party, which she never delivered, causing the resident anxiety and embarrassment. The second resident, also cognitively intact and with diagnoses including lupus, chronic kidney disease, and schizoaffective disorder, gave her bank debit card to AA J to purchase coffee creamer. Despite the facility being able to provide the item, AA J uploaded the resident's card information to her personal online shopping account and had the item delivered to her own home. The resident was unsure if she received a receipt and later had to cancel her debit card after it went missing. Staff interviews confirmed that AA J violated the facility's policy by handling resident funds and making unauthorized purchases. Multiple staff members and witness statements indicated that AA J frequently discussed her personal financial problems with residents, complained about the activity budget, and implied that residents needed to contribute money for activities. These actions made residents uncomfortable and led to some giving money directly to AA J. The facility's policies clearly prohibit staff from handling resident funds or soliciting money, and require receipts for all transactions involving resident funds, but these policies were not followed in these instances.