Failure to Prevent Resident-to-Resident Physical Abuse
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including dementia, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder was involved in an incident where another resident, also diagnosed with dementia, slapped them on the right side of the face in a recreation room. The care plan for the resident who was slapped had previously identified a risk for resident-to-resident incidents and included interventions such as providing emotional support and monitoring for changes in mood or behavior. Despite these interventions, the incident occurred without provocation, as observed and documented by facility staff. Facility documentation and staff interviews confirmed that the two residents were separated following the incident, and there was no indication of prior altercations between them. The resident who was slapped did not sustain an injury and denied pain. The facility's abuse policy states that each resident has the right to be free from abuse, but the incident demonstrates a failure to ensure this protection for the resident involved.