Complaint Investigation Report

Relevant party reported that resident (R1) passed away on 5/7/2023 while residing at the facility. Relevant party reported multiple withdrawals occurred from R1’s bank account after R1 passed away during the months of June, July, and August 2023, resulting in withdrawals totaling in the amount of over $20,000. Relevant party stated that no one had access to R1’s bank account and R1 did not have any other payee sources or a power of attorney. The Department obtained a death certificate for R1, which identified that R1 passed away on 5/7/2023 with an immediate cause of death being cardiorespiratory failure. Interview with Licensee confirmed that R1 passed away while residing at the facility. Licensee stated that they had not reported R1’s death to the Department as R1 was on hospice and Licensee was unaware that hospice deaths were to be reported to the Department. Licensee stated that R1 was on hospice for less than a week and was diabetic. Licensee stated that hospice removed R1’s diabetes medication once R1 was placed on hospice. Licensee stated that R1 passed away from natural causes.

Interview with Licensee indicated that they do not have any residents who use Zelle to transfer money to the facility. Licensee stated that they wouldn’t know if they received a Zelle transfer to their account. Licensee stated that most residents pay rent by writing checks to the Licensee. Licensee stated that R1 handled their own money and wrote their own checks. Licensee stated that, when R1 first moved into the facility, R1 gave Licensee a key to their apartment, which contained their cell phone, wallet, driver’s license, television, furniture, and clothing. Licensee stated that they went to R1’s apartment but there was someone else living there already and R1’s key didn’t work. Licensee stated that management at R1’s apartment stated that R1 had been gone for too long and they relinquished R1’s apartment. Licensee stated that they asked for R1’s belongings from the apartment but management stated that they threw out R1’s belongings. Licensee stated that R1 had possession of their checkbook, but checkbook was displaced after R1’s passing. Licensee stated that R1 did not have an ATM card.

Interview with Licensee indicated that, sometimes, R1 would provide Licensee with two (2) or three (3) checks at one time to pay for two (2) or three (3) months in advance. Licensee stated that each check R1 signed to the facility would be for $1,700. Licensee stated that they did not cash any checks from R1 after they passed away, but possibly cashed checks for multiple months in advance. Licensee stated that R1 did not owe any money to Licensee prior to R1 passing away and all money was paid to the facility when R1 passed away.