F0610

D

Failure to Timely Investigate and Report Alleged Verbal Abuse

Perry, Florida Survey Completed on 02-11-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure a thorough investigation and timely reporting of an allegation of verbal abuse involving one resident. On 1/19/26, the Social Service Director reported to the Administrator, who is also the abuse coordinator, that a resident had alleged verbal abuse by a registered nurse (Staff A) and expressed that Staff A should be suspended. The Human Resource Director, who heard this report during morning meeting, also told the Administrator that Staff A needed to be suspended and began a workplace investigation the same day. Witness statements and interviews dated 1/19/26 documented knowledge of the alleged verbal abuse. The resident later stated he had informed the Administrator and DON that he felt verbally abused by Staff A and believed he was being retaliated against.

On 2/11/26, the Administrator acknowledged she had been informed of the abuse allegation on 1/19/26 but did not suspend Staff A or report the allegation to the state agency, stating she did not believe it was verbal abuse because Staff A was outside the resident’s room. On 1/21/26, the Administrator became aware that a Social Worker Aide was a witness and that Staff A had provided a false witness statement, yet Staff A still was not suspended and the allegation was not reported to state agencies at that time. Facility records show the abuse report was not filed with the state agencies until 2/10/26. This response was inconsistent with the facility’s abuse policy, which requires any employee with knowledge of an allegation of abuse to report it immediately, but no later than 2 hours if it involves abuse or serious bodily injury, or within 24 hours if it does not involve abuse and does not result in serious bodily injury, to the Administrator and appropriate state officials.