Two therapists at Waveny Care Center accepted the monetary gifts despite facility policy prohibiting staff from taking gratuities from residents. The occupational therapist said she knew accepting the gift violated policy but didn't report it to supervisors. The physical therapist said she didn't see a problem taking money from a resident she considered "self-responsible."
The incident came to light through a complaint investigation completed November 18. Federal inspectors found the facility failed to ensure staff followed policies designed to protect residents from financial exploitation.
Occupational Therapist #1 visited Resident #85 on discharge day to say goodbye. During that visit, the resident handed her a check for $1,000. The therapist told investigators she was aware she shouldn't accept the gift but took it anyway. She never reported receiving the money to her supervisor.
"She did not think that Resident #85 felt pressured to give her the monetary gift but rather appeared to be giving the gift from the heart," inspectors wrote.
Physical Therapist #1 also received a check during a discharge day visit. When the resident handed her the money, the resident said others had already taken checks. The physical therapist told investigators she didn't see accepting the gift as problematic because the resident was "self-responsible."
After the incident became known, PT #1's supervisor informed her that accepting money from residents violated company policy. The therapist couldn't recall if she had been educated on the gratuities policy, though she indicated completing annual online training modules that might have included such education.
Records showed PT #1 had completed mandatory education on elder abuse and exploitation on May 9, 2024, and code of conduct training on June 7, 2024.
The facility's Code of Conduct Policy explicitly prohibits staff from accepting "gifts, gratuities, loans, or tips, whether financial or other, for services performed as an employee." Staff are also banned from asking for or accepting "any money, loans, gifts, favors" from residents or their families.
The policy further prohibits staff from "engage in conduct that creates the appearance of taking advantage of a resident" or "any other behavior that is immoral, illegal, or inappropriate to a healthcare environment."
Waveny Care Center's specific gratuities policy requires staff to inform residents and families that they cannot accept gifts. Any gratuity a staff member "is not able to refuse" must be turned over to Human Resources for deposit into an employee fund or to be raffled at future employee events.
The administrator told investigators that after the incident, the facility now requires contracted staff to sign an attestation confirming they have reviewed and understand facility policies. Previously, the facility had not required such documentation from contract workers.
Both staff members returned the monetary gifts, and Resident #85 was reimbursed. Investigators attempted to interview two other staff members - a laundry aide and nursing assistant - but were unsuccessful.
The resident's emergency contact, identified as Person #2, told investigators the issue had been resolved.
Federal inspectors found the facility failed to ensure all staff understood and followed policies protecting residents from potential financial exploitation. The violation carried a determination of minimal harm with few residents affected.
The incident raises questions about oversight of contract staff and whether other employees may have accepted gifts from the departing resident. The resident's comment to the physical therapist that "others had already taken one" suggests additional staff may have received checks.
Waveny Care Center's response focused on policy education rather than investigating how many staff members may have received gifts or why multiple employees felt comfortable accepting money from a single resident on the same day.
The facility's corrective action - requiring contracted staff to sign policy attestations - addresses only part of the workforce. The occupational therapist who accepted the first $1,000 check knew the policy existed but chose to violate it anyway, suggesting signed attestations may not prevent similar incidents.
Financial exploitation of nursing home residents often begins with seemingly innocent gifts or small favors that escalate over time. Federal regulations require facilities to protect residents from all forms of exploitation, including staff members who may take advantage of residents' gratitude or confusion about appropriate boundaries.
The timing of the gifts - on discharge day during goodbye visits - created a scenario where staff could rationalize accepting money as harmless tokens of appreciation. However, facility policies exist specifically to prevent such situations, recognizing that residents may feel obligated to show gratitude through monetary gifts even when not explicitly pressured.
Both therapists' willingness to accept substantial sums suggests inadequate understanding of professional boundaries with vulnerable residents. The physical therapist's reasoning that the resident was "self-responsible" demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of why gratuities policies exist in healthcare settings.
The incident also highlights potential gaps in policy enforcement and staff education. While the physical therapist completed required training on elder abuse and code of conduct, she either didn't retain the information or didn't connect those concepts to accepting resident gifts.
Investigators found no evidence that staff actively solicited the gifts or that the resident was coerced into giving money. However, the pattern of multiple staff members accepting checks during farewell visits suggests the resident may have felt expected to provide monetary thanks for care received.
The facility's decision to require policy attestations from contracted staff acknowledges that different categories of workers may receive varying levels of orientation and oversight. However, the corrective action doesn't address whether employed staff need additional education or monitoring.
Resident #85's ability to write multiple $1,000 checks while departing the facility indicates significant financial resources that could make them a target for exploitation. The resident's comment about others already taking checks suggests a systematic distribution of money that went unnoticed by supervisors until after the fact.
The case resolved without penalties beyond requiring staff to return the money and implement additional policy education. Person #2, the resident's emergency contact, expressed satisfaction with the resolution, though the report doesn't detail what steps were taken to prevent similar incidents.
Both therapists remain employed and continue providing services to residents. The facility reported no additional policy violations related to staff accepting gifts from residents during the inspection period.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Waveny Care Center from 2025-11-18 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.