Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review and Law Enforcement Detective and staff interviews, the facility failed to assure residents' property was safeguarded and staff did not misappropriate the residents' property for personal gain. Nurse Aide #1 used Resident #118's credit card to make unauthorized purchases totaling $757.73 without Resident #118's permission or knowledge and Housekeeper #1 used Resident #119's credit card to make an unauthorized purchase totaling $152.13 without Resident #119's permission or knowledge for 2 of 3 residents reviewed for misappropriation of resident property (Resident #118 and Resident #119).Findings included:The facility's Resident Abuse policy, last revised on 08/30/23, revealed in part, the facility would ensure all residents were free from misappropriation of property.1. Resident #118 was admitted to the facility on [DATE].The admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE] assessed Resident #118 with intact cognition.Review of the facility's investigation revealed on 12/12/24 at 3:30 PM the facility became aware of an allegation of misappropriation of property when Resident #118 reported her credit card was missing and an investigation was initiated. Resident #118 was notified by a family member that there were charges made using her credit card and when Resident #118 looked, she was unable to locate the credit card. Resident #118's credit card was frozen by the bank, the charges were disputed and law enforcement was notified. Continued review of the facility's investigation included an undated statement signed by the Administrator that revealed in part, the Law Enforcement Detective contacted the Administrator on 12/23/24 at 1:00 PM stating they had identified Nurse Aide (NA) #1 through video surveillance as the person who made the unauthorized purchases using Resident #118's credit card. NA #1 was working at the facility on 12/23/24 and was on break until 2:00 PM. Immediately upon returning from break, NA #1 was escorted to the Director of Nursing's (DON) office by the Administrator and interviewed. At first, NA #1 denied the accusation but when NA #1 was informed that law enforcement had video evidence of her making the purchases using Resident #118's credit card, NA #1 admitted to the Administrator and DON that she had taken Resident #118's credit card without authorization. NA #1 was terminated from employment and escorted out of the facility.A review of Resident #118's bank account records from 12/07/24 to 12/12/24 revealed four separate purchases were made to restaurants on 12/07/24 totaling $92.92; five separate purchases were made to restaurants and department stores on 12/10/24 totaling $489.38; and three separate purchases were made to restaurants and a grocery store on 12/12/24 totaling $175.43. Resident #118 discharged from the facility on 12/20/24 and was unable to be interviewed during this investigation.During a phone interview on 07/23/25 at 2:55 PM, NA #1 stated she did not take Resident #118's credit card and did not make the unauthorized credit card purchases. NA #1 expressed she never provided care to Resident #118 and was not working the day the credit card was allegedly lost. When asked if she was informed that law enforcement was able to positively identify her through video surveillance as the person making the unauthorized purchases, she replied no. NA #1 restated she did not do what she was being accused of and voiced she felt the facility administration singled her out for one reason or another. Review of the time clock report and corresponding staff schedule for 12/06/24 revealed NA #1 worked 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM and was assigned to Resident #118's hall.During a phone interview on 07/25/25 at 9:40 AM, the Law Enforcement Detective revealed he went to the grocery store and one of the department stores where purchases were made, told store employees what he was looking for and they were able to provide him with video security footage. He explained he was able to get still shots (photographs) from the video security footage, ran the images through facial recognition software and NA #1 was positively identified when a match was made to her driver's license photo. In addition, the loss prevention employee at the department store was able to confirm NA #1 used her membership number when making the purchase. The Law Enforcement Detective stated he never interviewed NA #1 as he had all the information needed and charges were filed.During an interview on 07/24/25 at 1:55 PM, the DON confirmed she was present on 12/23/24 when the Administrator interviewed NA #1 about Resident #118's credit card. The DON stated once the Administrator informed NA #1 that law enforcement had video evidence, NA #1 admitted that she took Resident #118's credit card without her knowledge and made the purchases. The DON stated NA #1 never provided any explanation as to why she took Resident #118's credit card.During interviews on 07/23/25 at 10:21 AM and 07/25/25 at 7:50 AM, the Administrator revealed at the time of Resident #118's admission to the facility (12/06/24), her family was managing her finances, noticed the charges made on her credit card and when they called Resident #118 about the charges, she denied spending any money. He stated he was informed by Resident #118's family they had notified her bank to freeze her account and they provided him with copies of the detailed transactions from her account. The Administrator stated when he spoke with Resident #118 she displayed no emotional distress, just appeared annoyed over the situation, and had no idea who would have taken her credit card. The Administrator stated at the time the allegation was made, he initially suspected another staff member who was involved in a similar situation a few weeks prior; however, she had resigned her position on 12/02/24 which was prior to this incident. He explained at the conclusion of the facility's investigation they were unable to determine what had happened to Resident #118's credit card or if it had been taken by an employee at the facility. The Administrator stated NA #1 was never a suspect until he was notified by law enforcement on 12/23/24 that they had video evidence of NA #1 making the unauthorized purchases and were able to make a positive identification by comparing pictures from the video to NA #1's driver's license photo. The Administrator stated after speaking to law enforcement, he brought NA #1 to the DON's office for an interview. He stated at first, NA #1 denied taking Resident #118's credit card and making unauthorized purchases but when she was told law enforcement stated they had video footage of her using the credit card, she told him well you got me, there is no way around it and finally admitted to taking and using Resident #118's credit card without her knowledge. The Administrator stated NA #1 never provided an explanation as to why she took Resident #118's credit card and basically stopped talking. The Administrator stated NA #1's employment was terminated and she was escorted out of the building. The Administrator stated he was informed by Resident #118 that her bank had refunded the money from the unauthorized purchases.2. Resident #119 was admitted to the facility on [DATE].The quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) assessment dated [DATE] assessed Resident #119 with intact cognition.Review of the facility's investigation revealed on 12/06/24 at 2:15 PM the facility became aware of an allegation of misappropriation of property for Resident #119 and an investigation was initiated. Resident #119 reported an unauthorized purchase was made to a department store in the amount of $152.13 and her credit card was missing from her wallet. Resident #119 also alleged she thought Housekeeper #1 was the person who had taken her credit card. Resident #119 contacted her bank to freeze the card, reissue a new card and disputed the charges. The accused employee resigned employment around the same time the purchase was made using Resident #119's credit card. Resident #119 reported the bank refunded the money from the unauthorized purchase and issued her a new credit card. Law enforcement, Health Care Personnel Registry and Adult Protective Services were all notified of the incident.Resident #119 discharged from the facility on 12/23/24 and was unable to be interviewed during this investigation.Unsuccessful telephone attempts for an interview with Housekeeper #1 were made on 07/23/25 at 9:09 AM and 07/24/25 at 12:06 PM with no return phone call.During interviews on 07/23/25 at 10:21 AM and 07/25/25 at 7:50 AM, the Administrator revealed when Resident #119 reported her credit card was missing on 12/06/24, she alleged it was a housekeeper who took the credit card without her permission and he knew by the process of elimination that Housekeeper #1 was assigned to Resident #119's hall. The Administrator stated when he spoke with Resident #119 she displayed no emotional distress, just appeared annoyed over the situation. He explained an investigation was initiated, including reporting the incident to law enforcement, Adult Protective Services and the State Agency, and Housekeeper #1 had already resigned her position on 12/02/24 prior to the incident being reported. He stated he tried calling Housekeeper #1 but she never returned any of his phone calls. The Administrator stated Resident #119 reported that her bank had refunded the money from the unauthorized purchase.