Failure to Investigate and Educate Following Alleged Misappropriation of Resident Property
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to thoroughly investigate an allegation of misappropriation of property involving a resident who reported two missing Apple laptops. The resident, who was cognitively intact and able to communicate clearly, reported the missing items to the Nursing Home Administrator (NHA), who searched the resident's room with permission but did not locate the laptops. Interviews with staff revealed that one staff member had moved the resident to a new room but did not see the laptops, while another recalled seeing the laptops in a box months earlier. Seventeen other residents were interviewed and denied any knowledge or involvement in the incident. Despite the report, there was no documented follow-up to resolve the missing property issue, and the resident expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of resolution and communication regarding the missing laptops. Additionally, the facility did not provide staff education or training related to misappropriation of property following the incident, as required by facility policy. The NHA acknowledged that no staff education had been conducted and was unable to explain the delay in offering the resident a lock for valuables. There was also no evidence that the value of the missing laptops was addressed or replaced. The lack of thorough investigation and absence of staff education represent a failure to implement the facility's policy on protecting residents from misappropriation and ensuring appropriate follow-up after such allegations.