Complaint Investigation Report

Allegation: Staff prevents resident from praying before bed.

The details of the complaint alleged client #1 (C1) is denied his personal rights in expressing his prayers before bed. The complainant reports a staff prevented (C1) on 08/31/22 from saying his prayers.

An interview with administrator staff #1 (S1) that (C1) is accommodated services not included with the basic services on the admissions agreement. (C1) is a consumer of Westside Regional Center and is accommodated with a one on one care. (S1-S5) all claim they are made aware by the licensee that (C1) must have his daily prayers prior to bedtime. An interview with staff #2 (S2) observed (C1) voiced his prayers while in bed on 08/31/22. (S2) worked the evenings shift of 4pm-12am and claims she observed (C1) between 8pm -8:30pm say his prayers while he was in bed in his room. Interview with (S3) who worked on 08/31/22 during 4pm- 12pm collaborated (S2’s) claim and observed (C1) expressed his prayers that evening. (S3) reports that (C1) would have daily evening prayers with family members and cannot recall when (C1) ever missed this opportunity at night.

(C1) no longer resides at this facility effective 09/07/22 was interviewed by the Department by telephone. (C1) claims he was never denied of his personal rights and that he is able to say his prayers daily including 08/31/22. (C1) can not remember a time he missed his prayers. The Department attempted to interview clients #2-#4 (C2-C4) who were present at the facility and were unable to hold a conversation as a result of their disability. Interview with licensee staff #5 (S5) reports there is no written agreement which specified (C1) must have daily prayers must be conducted by the facility and that family representatives signed off in an agreement. However, (S5) states such request was honored by the facility base on verbal understanding a part of special personal accommodation for (C1) solely. (S5) asserts she is to be made aware if this accommodation is not performed. (S5) claims she did not receive any forms of communication for 08/31/22 regarding this matter. The facility provided a telephone log sheet for (C1) from 11/21/21 through 09/05/22 where it lists all the daily activities for (C1) including evening prayers were being conducted.

Evaluation Report continues on LIC 9099-C