Complaint Investigation Report

9099C-1. Allegation: Staff hit resident. The allegation states that staff (S1) was observed to hit resident (R1) on/around mid-September 2025 while staff was pushing resident back to their room. The allegation states that when (R1) became agitated, staff (S1) became frustrated and hit (R1) in the shoulder.

The facility submitted a Report of Suspected Dependent Adult/Elder Abuse (SOC341) to the Department on September 12, 2025. The SOC341 states that on September 6, 2025 (approximately 5:00 pm), a family member observed (R1) to be having an aggressive behavior during dinner time and hit staff (S1). The report states that (R1) was hit on the back on the left shoulder by (S1), who then took (R1) back to their room, stating to (R1) they had to go back to their room. The report notes the Ombudsman's office was also notified of the alleged incident by fax.

The administrator stated on October 15, 2025 that (S1) was suspended accordingly and following their internal investigation, it was determined that the alleged incident did not occur and (S1) was allowed to return to work.

LPA interviewed (S1) who was adamant they did not hit (R1) and this is a "false claim". (S1) explained (R1) started to get angry when they were sitting in their wheelchair in the dining room because one of the caregivers stated (R1) is "not supposed to be in the dining room due to being infected" with something contagious. (S1) stated when they tried to take (R1) in their wheelchair back to their room (R1) then " tried to hit" them, and a Med-Tech arrived to assist and was able to calm (R1) down. (S1) stated he and staff, (S2)were the only staff present when (R1) became agitated, prior to the Med-Tech arriving and confirmed they "did not hit the resident (R1) back" explaining they "can't do that" and fully is aware of that. (S1) described (R1) to be "shaking in his wheelchair, with uncontrolled movements". (S1) stated they had the next two days off from work, but when returning, they "had to be reassigned to the other side" of the facility where (R1) does not reside.

(S2) stated to LPA she did recall being in the dining room on September 6, 2025, around dinner time, and did not observe either (R1) hit (S1) or (S1) hit (R1). Charting notes for (R1) do not document anything information about the alleged incident; however, the notes reflect that (R1) was "very agitated" with staff on the following day around 11:30 pm. (R1) moved to a higher level of care on October 20, 2025 and was not able to be interviewed.