Failure to Protect Residents from Verbal Abuse by Visitor
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to protect residents from verbal abuse by a visitor, specifically the spouse of one resident, affecting two residents. According to progress notes and interviews, the spouse was reported to have verbally abused their partner and another resident in the hallway, including pointing a finger and making aggressive statements. Witnesses described the affected resident as visibly upset and crying, and noted that the spouse's behavior had been problematic on previous occasions. After the incident, the resident who was verbally abused appeared distressed and hesitant to leave their room. Record reviews revealed that there were no care plan interventions in place to address or prevent further abusive behavior by the visitor toward either resident. Additionally, there was no documentation of the incident or its psychosocial impact on the second resident, nor evidence of an investigation into the event. The Director of Nursing confirmed the occurrence of the verbal abuse and the resulting fear experienced by the resident.