F0576

D

Failure to Protect Resident Privacy of Mail and Packages

Washington, District Of Columbia Survey Completed on 02-13-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Facility staff failed to ensure a resident’s mail and packages were kept private and unopened prior to delivery. A cognitively intact resident with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and congestive heart failure reported during a Resident Council meeting that staff had opened two Amazon packages that had been delivered for him. The resident stated staff told him they opened the packages because they believed the packages belonged to the facility, although he could not recall which employee was involved or the dates of delivery. Review of the resident’s rights documented that the resident has the right to have privacy in getting mail.

In a subsequent face-to-face interview, a recreation aide reported that she delivers mail to residents and recalled a prior incident in which a resident’s package was already opened when it came to her for delivery. She stated she refused to deliver that opened package and told the person who had it that they needed to deliver it to the resident because it was open, but she could not remember which employee or which resident were involved. These interviews and record reviews showed that at least one resident’s packages were opened by staff before being provided to the resident, contrary to the resident’s right to privacy in receiving mail.