Complaint Investigation Report

intermittently throughout the investigation and LPA reviewed pertinent documents. The following was then determined:

Regarding the allegation “Inadequate staffing to meet the needs of the residents:”

During the time period the complaint was received, the facility was experiencing a significant COVID outbreak, which was initially reported on 12/28/2020 and resulted in continued daily communication and support from CCLD through 02/02/2021. During the time period of the complaint allegation, locating qualified staffing was challenging for not only the facility, but the caregiving industry as a whole. Interview revealed that the facility had many regular staff who had tested positive for COVID and were therefore not cleared by Public Health to work. The facility had signed contracts with two different staffing agencies and were able to schedule staff to work with the COVID positive cohort. However, many agencies just did not have available staff. Interview with Administrator revealed Martha had called “so many staffing agencies and no one has staff available.” Care logs reviewed revealed the facility employed 788.25 hours of agency care staff for the time period of 12/07/2020 – 01/31/2021. Administrator contacted CCLD for additional staffing resources and still struggled to obtain adequate replacement staffing. Administrator tried alternate strategies such as scheduling staff for 12-hour shifts rather than the regular 8-hour shifts and had employed an “all hands on deck” strategy where even salaried management staff stepped in to complete daily caregiving tasks and serving residents’ meals. Administrator had spoken with Ventura County Public Health about alternate staffing resources and worked within their company’s corporate entity to create alternate staffing solutions. Interview with staff and residents revealed that residents’ needs were met. Residents reported that they did have to wait at times, particularly for meals, but that the staff that were there remained helpful and positive throughout the pandemic. Interview revealed that as COVID positive staff were cleared to work, they were brought back into the facility and staffing concerns subsided. Based on interview, although the allegation may be valid, at this time there is insufficient evidence to support the allegation or that a violation occurred, therefore the allegation “inadequate staffing to meet the needs of the residents” is deemed UNSUBSTANTIATED at this time.

Regarding the allegation “Facility is not safeguarding residents’ belongings:”

The complaint alleges that during the time of the COVID outbreak, that residents were moved to alternate rooms and some of their personal belongings were not brought with the residents. At the time of the