complaint·June 15, 2022

The investigation revealed the following: Regarding the allegation: Staff financially abused resident while in care. “It’s being alleged that a resident in care had their debit card used by a former staff to make unauthorized purchases.” During interviews, 6 out of 7 staff generally denied the allegation to be true but suspect S3 of financial abuse. 1 staff was unavailable for an interview. On 06/15/2022 at 10:01am S1 states, “staff do not financially abuse residents.” On 06/15/2022 at 10:16am S2 states, “S3 was hired to be an activities person. On Tues, 05/31/2022, they went to go get donuts with R1 and R2. I was under the impression they were going to buy them out of pocket. The next day the daughter of R1 call stating there was activity on R1’s debit card. There were two charges for donuts. The days after, S3 was a no call no show for the next 3 days. That following Monday they came to work. I asked about the charges for the donuts and if they had the card. S3 denied the charges and knowing where R1’s card was. S3 was unavailable for an interview. On 06/15/2022 S4-7 all suspect S3 of financial abuse but could not confirm for sure. On 06/15/2022 at 11:15am S7 states, “I’m not aware of any staff financially abusing R1.” During interviews, 5 out of 7 residents denied the allegation to be true. 2 were unable to be interviewed due to their diagnoses. R1 and R2 were both unable to interview. On 06/15/2022 at 11:10am R3 states, “I don’t know R1 and anything about their card being stolen. On 06/15/2022 at 11:30am R6 states, “The staff don’t have access to my accounts so they can’t abuse me financially. On 06/15/2022 R3-7 all deny being financially abused. On 06/15/2022 at 10:34am W1 states, “I don’t know for sure. I wasn’t there, obviously. R1 had their debit card and was taken to a shopping center nearby with an individual that works there. That day there were 7 different charges on the card. One of two things happened that day: The employee took R1’s card or it was lost, and someone picked it up. I wasn’t there and it’s pretty hard to prove. Some random stranger could have picked it up. I don’t know if the employee is still there and if they confessed. The police said that there was not enough proof to press charges. I didn’t know R1 had their card in the first place.” LPA reviewed a copy of R1’s inventory list and did not note a debit card tracked by the relative of R1. LPA reviewed an incident report from the Long Beach Police Department which includes the transactions in question. The police report dated for 06/03/2022 does not indicate a perpetrator. Based on interviews conducted, and record review, the preponderance of evidence standard has not been met. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of the report was given.