Finding Description
Based on record review and interview, the facility failed to prevent physical and mental abuse of a resident by a staff member during resident transfer for 1 of 3 residents reviewed for abuse. (Resident B)Findings include:An Indiana report form, dated 10/10/25 at 6:01 p.m., indicated CNA (Certified Nursing Aide) 2 had reported CNA 4 had rushed Resident B during care. CNA 4 was suspended, and an investigation was initiated. Residents with a BIMS (Brief Interview for Mental Status) of 8 or above were interviewed and skin checks completed on residents with a BIMS below 8 were completed. In-service trainings were started with staff. Resident B was to be monitored for psychosocial well-being.A clinical record review for Resident B was completed on 10/22/25 at 11:30 a.m. Diagnoses included Alzheimer's disease, depression, and total urinary and bowel incontinence.An admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment, dated 10/1/25, indicated the resident had severe cognitive impairment. She had difficulty communicating some words or finishing thoughts but was able, if prompted or given time, and could usually understand although missed some part/intent of a message but comprehends most conversation. She had no behaviors, no delusions or hallucinations, and no rejection of care. The resident used a wheelchair for mobility and was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living. She was totally incontinent of bowel and bladder and had a fall in the last month before admission.A health care plan, dated 9/19/25, indicated resident was at risk for skin breakdown related to mobility, weakness, Alzheimer's disease, and received hospice services. The goal was for resident's skin to remain intact. Interventions included to avoid shearing skin during positioning, turning, and transferring.A health care plan, dated 9/19/25, indicated Resident B required staff assistance to complete self-care and mobility functional tasks completely and safely. The goal was the resident would have functional needs met safely by staff. Interventions included to allow resident sufficient time to complete all or parts of tasks and to not rush the resident.A health care plan, dated 9/30/25, indicated resident's profile care guide included maximum assistance of two staff members for transfers.An Investigation Summary, dated 10/12/25 at 6:00 p.m., provided by the Administrator on 10/22/25 at 12:01 p.m., indicated a staff member had reported a concern about an interaction with CNA 4 during care with Resident B. The staff member felt CNA 4 had rushed the resident during care.A nursing progress note, dated 10/10/25 at 4:40 p.m., (recorded as a late entry on 10/12/25 at 6:47 a.m.) indicated physical and psychological assessments were completed. The resident was smiling, responsive and without distress. No physical injuries were noted and no bruising was noted at this time. Will continue to observe and update as needed.A care conference note, dated 10/12/25 at 9:30 a.m., with resident's husband, indicated the following: Discussed occurrence regarding incident with team member and provided information to resident husband. Resident husband stated that resident does become combative at times, and DHS [Director of Health Services] stated that should not affect care that is given, and it is the resident's right to be treated fairly. Resident's husband stated that he was grateful for the follow-up with this situation. DSS [Director of Social Services] to continue to check on resident daily x3 days and assess for psycho-social well-being. Will continue to hold care conferences as needed and quarterly.During a telephone interview, on 10/22/25 at 12:12 p.m., CNA 4 indicated she only knew of one incident when the resident was in bed and when she reached for her brief to change her, she kicked her in the face and knocked her glasses off. She responded by picking up her glasses and leaving the room after making sure the resident was covered and safe. She returned a bit later and she was cooperative with care, and she was able to provide it. The staff told her that she had not explained what she was going to do with the resident prior to performing care and that was why she reacts in that manner. She had no problem with her prior to this. She reported that the resident kicked her in the face. She did not have any injury to her face except a small scratch where her glasses had scratched her. She was suspended about a week after this occurrence. She had no other incidents that she recalls following that. The DON (Director of Nursing) indicated that she had to jump through hoops not to report her license. The DON indicated that it was because of CNA 4's tone and attitude and that was why she was being suspended. She would not have had an attitude with Resident B due to her dementia, and she was very aware of how to care for a resident with dementia. If they start to become upset, she will leave and come back (if safe to do so). She was not told what incident they were referring too. She was fired without explanation except her tone, attitude. She has felt like the DON had it out for her since the DON started with the facility. During an interview on 12/22/25 at 1:58 p.m., the Corporate Nurse Consultant indicated she had received a phone call from the DON regarding an incident that had been reported to her where CNA 4 had rushed a resident during care. They did not think her approach was appropriate when transferring a resident. During investigation many resident's were interviewed. She indicated the residents had no concerns with the CNA or any staff members.During a telephone interview on 10/22/25 at 4:19 p.m., CNA 7 indicated when she entered Resident B's room on 10/9/25 around 8:00 p.m., the room chair (not her wheelchair) was scooted closer to the bed. CNA 4 had her left hand on the back of the chair and her right arm linked under the resident arm, pulling and yanking her up. She stopped yanking on Resident B's arm when she saw CNA 7 in the doorway. The resident was resisting getting out of the chair and trying to move away. The resident was laughing angrily with her teeth gritted and showing. CNA 4 was heard saying, come on get up, we gotta get up, in a loud voice, repetitively. CNA 7 indicated she asked CNA 4 to leave the room. CNA 4 started talking about what was going on and CNA 7 repeated her request that she leave the room. She would not leave the room. CNA 7 got on her knees next to the chair to speak with Resident B to calm her down as she was very upset. At that time, LPN 8 entered the room and asked CNA 4 to leave the room. CNA 4 left the room at that time. CNA 7 indicated she was able to calm Resident B down within about five minutes and was able to transfer her to bed without issues. During a telephone interview on 10/22/25 at 4:37 p.m., LPN 8 indicated she was outside the room when CNA 4 had been pulling and jerking Resident B's arm. Resident B had been asleep in the recliner and CNA 4 had entered the room and pulled the room chair close to the bed without speaking to the resident. The resident woke up with CNA 4 pulling her arm to transfer her to bed. Resident B got very upset. LPN 8 indicated to CNA 4 to stop what she was doing and leave the room. She indicated to CNA 4 she would find other help to transfer Resident B to bed. When she arrived back to the room, she observed CNA 7 on the floor next to Resident B's chair and CNA 4 standing on the other side of the chair. Apparently CNA 4 had returned to the room when she had gone to find CNA 7, and CNA 4 had observed her again tugging on Resident B's arm. She asked CNA 4 at that time to again leave the room.During an interview on 10/23/25 at 10:20 a.m., the Administrator indicated they had not felt the incident constituted abuse. CNA 4 would not return to the facility to speak with her about the incident, so they decided to part ways. When she spoke with CNA 4 on the telephone she was not willing to acknowledge the requests to leave the room, and truly could not understand any errors in her behavior. The Administrator did feel CNA 4 would be safe to work with a dependent resident given more training and she did not feel she needed reported to the Board of Nursing for investigation.During a phone interview on 10/23/25 at 1:04 p.m., Resident B's husband indicated the incident happened on a Friday and he was not informed until he received a phone call on Sunday at noon. The DON called and said there had been an incident on Friday. It was a little situation that escalated to a point they felt they needed to suspend the staff member. That was all he had been told. She indicated they had looked Resident B over and they had not observed any bruising or redness. He was told they were going to investigate the incident and would inform him of the details when completed. She told him that under no circumstances would they allow a resident to be treated like that and it should not have happened. The employees know it was not allowed at this facility. He felt she was trying to figure out if he was going to make a thing out of it. He remains in the dark about the specifics of what occurred. It had been a couple weeks now and he still had no specific information.During a telephone interview on 10/23/25 at 1:37 p.m., the DON indicated she had spoken to Resident B's spouse on the phone in the middle of the investigation and had told him the details of the occurrence. She indicated during her investigation she had spoken to residents and other staff members. She did not feel CNA 4 had intent to harm the resident. She did not feel it was an abuse situation due to the lack of intent. She felt CNA 4 was focused on getting her task completed of getting the resident to bed, so even though she was asked to leave by other employees, she returned to complete her task. She could not speak to what CNA 4 was thinking by returning after being asked to leave.An in-service document used for staff education, titled, Preventing, Recognizing, and Reporting Abuse & Neglect, provided by the Administrator on 10/22/25 at 12:01 p.m., included the following: Physical Abuse Definition includes hitting, slapping, pinching, spitting, holding or handling roughly, etc. It also includes controlling behavior through corporal punishment.Examples.Staff to resident abuse with or without injury; Staff member pulls a resident in order to make them move more quickly.This citation relates to Intake 2641594.3.1-27(a)(1)