Failure to Timely Report Allegation of Financial Abuse to State Agency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that an allegation of financial abuse was reported to the State Survey Agency within two hours of becoming aware of the allegation, as required by regulation and facility policy. The resident involved had dementia associated with Parkinson's disease and had been admitted with these diagnoses. The facility became aware of the alleged financial abuse on 2/19/26 at 3:30 p.m., when the resident called her bank to check her balance and became upset due to debits from her account. The abuse coordinator was notified at 3:49 p.m. that same day. The facility’s short-term care plan documented the resident’s upset related to the debits, and the facility’s policy stated it would promptly prevent, identify, and report suspected abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Despite this, the allegation was not reported to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) within the required two-hour timeframe. The Chief Nursing Officer, who served as the abuse coordinator, stated she did not know if CDPH was called on 2/19/26 and acknowledged it was her expectation that staff report suspected abuse to CDPH within two hours and that it was her responsibility to verify timely reporting. CDPH records showed no voicemail messages from the facility between 2/19/26 and 2/24/26. CDPH ultimately received a faxed Report of Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse (SOC 341) on 2/23/26 at 4:49 p.m., which had been completed and dated 2/20/26 by the DON, confirming the resident as an alleged victim of financial abuse, demonstrating that the report was not made within the required reporting window.
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