Failure to Protect Resident from Physical Abuse by Roommate
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with severe cognitive impairment and limited physical mobility was not protected from physical abuse by their roommate, who also had cognitive and mobility impairments. The incident took place when a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) observed one resident hitting the other in the chest after hearing yelling from the room. The CNA immediately intervened and separated the residents. Both residents were unable to recall the incident or what led to it, and neither sustained injuries as a result of the altercation. The facility's records indicated that both residents had significant cognitive and physical limitations, with one resident having a history of Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and hemiplegia, and the other also experiencing hemiplegia and cognitive impairment. The facility's policy requires the protection of residents from abuse, neglect, and exploitation, but in this case, a resident was subjected to physical abuse by another resident in their shared living space.