Failure to Timely Return Resident’s Wheelchair and Personal Belongings After Room Fumigation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions when the resident's wheelchair and ice chest were not returned in a timely manner after his room was fumigated. The resident, who had paraplegia, neuromuscular bladder dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and major depressive disorder, was dependent on staff for toileting, transfers, and most ADLs. His history and physical indicated he had capacity to understand and make decisions. On the day of fumigation, staff, including CNAs, cleared his room and removed his wheelchair, ice chest, and other personal property for storage. The LVN reported that CNAs helped clear the room and that he did not know where the resident's property was, and also noted that the resident did not like people touching his property. Following the fumigation, the resident reported that his wheelchair and ice chest were not returned and stated he felt harassed, bullied, and controlled, and that he did not trust the facility with his belongings because items had previously gone missing or been broken. He stated he requested the return of his wheelchair and ice cooler from the Administrator the day after fumigation, and the Administrator told him he would look into it. CNAs confirmed that the resident said the social worker took his wheelchair and ice cooler and did not bring them back, and one CNA stated the items were removed from the bedside to fumigate the room. The DON stated the social worker was responsible for returning residents' property, and the Administrator stated he had instructed staff, including the social worker, to return the resident's wheelchair and ice chest after the room was cleaned, and acknowledged that if they had told the resident to place his property in storage, he would have become upset. The facility's policy on a homelike environment indicated residents are to be provided a safe, comfortable, homelike environment and encouraged to use their personal belongings to the extent possible, which was not followed in this instance.
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