Failure to Prevent Misappropriation of Resident Property by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a certified nursing assistant (CNA) removed a resident's dresser key from their arm, accessed the locked dresser, and took $250 from the resident's wallet without consent. The resident, who had diagnoses including COPD, heart failure, anxiety, and depression, was cognitively intact and required varying levels of assistance with activities of daily living. The incident was not immediately reported by the resident, who initially waited to inform their family but later reported the theft to nursing staff after returning from a medical appointment. Facility policies required the prevention, prompt investigation, and reporting of misappropriation of resident property, including notification to appropriate agencies within 24 hours. Despite these policies, there was no documentation in the social service or nursing notes regarding the resident's allegation of stolen money. The CNA involved was assigned to the resident's unit during the relevant shift, and the resident later identified the CNA as the individual who took the money. The CNA denied the allegation during an interview but acknowledged receiving training on abuse and misappropriation of resident funds. Interviews with facility staff revealed a lack of awareness regarding the missing property, and no audits or reports of missing money were noted for the unit. The incident was eventually reported to supervisory staff and law enforcement after the resident's family became involved. The facility's failure to ensure the resident was free from misappropriation of property constituted a violation of regulatory requirements.