Failure to Ensure Resident Access to Personal Possessions After Room Change
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to ensure that a resident's personal clothing and possessions were properly relocated and accessible following a room change. During an observation, it was found that the resident's clothing, including pajama pants, sweatshirts, and water bottles, remained in a vacant room that the resident had never occupied, rather than being moved to the resident's current room. Staff interviews confirmed that the clothing belonged to the resident and acknowledged that all personal items should have been transferred to the new room. Additionally, other items such as a pressure-reducing boot and linens of unclear status were found in the room, with some items not labeled with a resident's name. The resident, who was moderately cognitively impaired according to a recent BIMS assessment, expressed awareness that his clothing was missing and stated that he wanted his clothes in his current room. Facility policy requires staff to treat residents with respect and dignity and to protect residents from misappropriation of property. The failure to ensure the resident's personal possessions were accessible and properly managed resulted in a deficiency related to resident rights and respect for personal property.