F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
F

Failure to Report Suspected Misappropriation of Resident Property

Utuqqanaat InaatKotzebue, Alaska Survey Completed on 07-29-2026

Summary

The facility failed to report an allegation of abuse to the State Agency as required under CFR 483.12(c)(1) after it identified suspected misappropriation of a resident’s property. The resident involved had diagnoses including schizoaffective disorder and cognitive impairment, and a PASRR level II assessment documented a history of schizoaffective disorder, grave disability, moderate cognitive impairment, unspecified depression, dementia, and cerebral ischemia. The assessment also noted the individual had memory difficulty and would be unable to care for himself or herself outside the facility. Facility leadership and multiple staff members described concerns that a friend repeatedly took the resident out of the facility and obtained money from the resident. The Administrator stated the concern escalated in May 2026 after the resident’s bank account became overdrawn and the resident had no money available for personal use, and then in June 2026 the resident’s social security check was seized by the bank to cover delinquent funds. The Administrator, Social Worker, and DON each acknowledged they were mandated reporters, but none reported the concern. The Administrator stated the facility talked to the friend several times, talked to the resident about not giving the friend money, and encouraged the resident to keep the bank card in the facility, but the concern was not reported because the resident said the friend was not taking advantage of him or her. Record review showed repeated documentation that the friend had access to the resident’s bank card, PIN, cash, and outings from the facility, including entries showing the resident gave the friend the bank card to withdraw funds, the friend returned with cash or the card on some occasions, and the resident returned from outings with little or no money. The leave-of-absence log showed the friend took the resident out of the facility 25 times, including 11 absences from May through July after leadership identified the potential abuse concern. The facility’s abuse reporting policy also did not align with regulatory requirements because it directed reporting within 24 hours rather than immediately, but no later than 2 hours when abuse was involved, and it did not clearly identify the State Survey Agency or APS as the reporting entities.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0609 citations
Failure to Report Allegation of Verbal Abuse
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Report Allegation of Verbal Abuse: A resident with HTN, anxiety disorder, and hyperlipidemia reported that a staff member yelled at her during resident council. Facility records showed a nurse aide was disciplined and retrained on communication, but the allegation was not included in the abuse reports submitted to the State. The DON confirmed the required report was not filed.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Timely Report Alleged Abuse: The facility did not report an allegation of abuse involving a cognitively intact resident with stroke, coordination, and anxiety diagnoses to HHSC within the required 2-hour timeframe. The resident alleged that an CNA had bullied her during a smoke break, and the Administrator acknowledged the report should have been made within 2 hours but was not submitted until later that day.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Report Allegations of Verbal Abuse and Involuntary Seclusion
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Report Allegations of Verbal Abuse and Involuntary Seclusion: The facility did not report multiple grievances involving an RN and an LPN to the SA, including resident complaints of rude and disrespectful comments, yelling, scolding, and blocking residents from entering their rooms when they tried to self-transfer. Documentation showed incomplete grievance investigations, delayed administrator sign-off, and no timely reporting of the allegations as verbal abuse or involuntary seclusion.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Report Suspected Abuse and Unexplained Injury
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

A resident reported being frightened after another resident repeatedly entered the room, grabbed belongings, and acted aggressively, but the concern was not reported to the SA within 2 hours. In a separate incident, a cognitively intact resident returned from the ER with a minor labial tear/perineal laceration and minimal bleeding, yet the DON and administrator did not treat it as reportable abuse or an injury of unknown source and did not investigate it.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Report Alleged Mistreatment During Hair Grooming
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

A facility failed to report an alleged mistreatment during a resident’s hair grooming to the State Agency within the required timeframe. The resident had dementia, depression, severe cognitive impairment, and was dependent on staff for grooming and hygiene. Records showed a matted area of hair was removed, leaving a reddened scalp, and staff later described the event as an abuse allegation that should have been reported.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Timely Report Injury of Unknown Origin
D
F0609 F609: Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Short Summary

Failure to Timely Report Injury of Unknown Origin: A resident with dementia and multiple medical diagnoses developed unexplained right elbow swelling, redness, warmth, and pain, later found to be a dislocation with fracture. An LPN notified the NP, DON, and family and a STAT x-ray was ordered, but the initial report to IDPH was not made within the required two-hour timeframe after the injury of unknown origin was identified.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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