Failure to Prevent Misappropriation of Resident Property by Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to prevent the misappropriation of resident property for six residents, all of whom were cognitively intact and had various medical diagnoses such as dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, metabolic encephalopathy, Parkinson's disease, and others. Multiple residents reported missing personal items, including debit and credit cards, cash, and quarters. In one instance, a resident's bank card was used for unauthorized purchases totaling over $700, while others reported missing cash amounts ranging from $20 to $200. The missing items were reported by the residents themselves or their families, and the incidents were documented in the facility's incident reports. Interviews with residents confirmed that the thefts were isolated incidents for each individual, with no prior or subsequent issues reported. The Executive Director (ED) and a detective investigated the incidents, reviewing video footage and identifying a certified nursing assistant (CNA) as the common factor in the cases. The CNA admitted to taking quarters and bank cards from several residents and stated that the stolen cards were discarded. The affected residents resided on the same hallway, which was the only area where the implicated CNA worked. The facility's records and interviews indicated that the thefts occurred over a short period and involved only residents from a specific hallway. The investigation included collaboration between facility leadership and law enforcement, with the CNA ultimately admitting to the misappropriation of property. All affected residents were observed to have no signs of psychosocial distress at the time of the interviews.