Failure to Prevent Resident-to-Resident Physical Abuse
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect a resident's right to be free from physical abuse when two residents were involved in a physical altercation. One resident, who had complete paraplegia and no memory impairment, was found on the floor holding the leg of another resident near a hallway. This resident sustained a superficial abrasion to the forehead and broken nails on the right hand as a result of the incident. The resident reported feeling overwhelmed and experiencing a headache following the altercation. The other resident involved had a diagnosis of unspecified dementia with severe memory impairment and PTSD, and had a documented history of previous resident-to-resident altercations, including an incident where this resident grabbed or punched another. Facility records and interviews confirmed that staff witnessed the altercation and responded after the event. Facility policies reviewed indicated residents have the right to be free from all forms of abuse, including physical abuse.