complaint·December 12, 2024

During the visit, the LPA interviewed the Interim Administrator at 11:00am, obtained copies of resident and staff records and other pertinent documents relevant to the investigation, toured the facility with Memory Care Director at 2:16pm and interviewed one staff at 3:30pm. The Operations Specialist/Interim Administrator was advised that the Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) Investigations Branch (IB) Investigator Christine Ferris was assigned to investigate the allegation. Investigator Ferris conducted interviews on 09/26/2024, from approximately 11:00am to 1:40pm, with the facility Operations Specialist/Interim Administrator, R1, Memory Care Director, residents, and staff; on 10/24/2024, from approximately 1:30pm to 2:15pm, with staff and a resident; and on 11/05/2024, at approximately 10:00am, with S1. In addition, Investigator Ferris reviewed Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Report #024-04236-2223-139 and Supplemental Report; and facility file documents related to R1 and S1. According to the review of R1’s facility file documents, R1’s Physician Report, dated 09/14/2022, stated R1 is diagnosed with diabetes and heart failure, auditorily and visually impaired and wears hearing aids and glasses, is sometimes confused and disoriented, is able to follow directions and communicate needs, uses a walker and a wheelchair, and is non-ambulatory. R1’s placement in the assisted living portion of the facility was listed as 09/15/2022. According to the Special Incident Report (SIR) submitted by the facility, on 08/17/2024, R1 told two facility staff that S1 touched R1. The staff reported this to the Memory Care Director (MCD), who then spoke to R1. R1 stated that S1 was changing R1’s brief (diaper) as R1 lay in bed. R1 stated S1 touched R1 while pointing to R1’s vagina area. The MCD asked R1 to explain, who stated S1 was rubbing R1. When asked if S1 could have possibly just been cleaning R1, R1 stated “no, I am not dumb, I can tell the difference”. The MCD asked if R1 told S1 to stop and R1 stated they said no to S1 and moved S1’s hand. R1 said S1 did it 2 or 3 more times. No one observed the incident. When the Operations Specialist/Interim Administrator interviewed R1, R1 repeated the same story. R1 was asked if R1 wanted to see a doctor or contact the police, R1 declined. R1’s resident representative was contacted about the incident. S1 was interviewed and denied the allegation. S1 was suspended pending investigation. On 08/27/2024, S1 was terminated. Report will continue on LIC9099-C, 3rd page. The Department’s investigation did not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate sexual abuse against S1. R1’s statement changed during the Department’s interview from what R1 initially reported to staff and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. There were no witnesses to the incident. Staff interviewed stated there were no safety concerns with S1 prior to the incident. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department closed the case with no further action. S1 denied the allegation. Therefore, the allegation “Sexual Abuse: Resident #1 (R1) was inappropriately touched by Staff #1 (S1)” is deemed Unsubstantiated at this time. Exit interview conducted, copy of this report issued.