The resident, identified only as Resident 1 in federal inspection records, had the necklace listed on her official inventory when she was admitted to the facility. But when inspectors arrived following a complaint in November, staff acknowledged the sentimental piece was gone.
"It was of sentimental value because Resident 1 has had it since she graduated from high school," the Associate Director of Social Services told inspectors on November 26.
The loss violated federal regulations requiring nursing homes to protect residents' personal belongings. Resident 1 suffers from dementia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and anemia. Her cognitive abilities are moderately impaired, and she requires assistance setting up her meals.
Her necklace appeared on a Resident Inventory List signed and dated June 20, 2023. The document specifically noted it was a "necklace with a heart" bearing a name. But during the November inspection, the Associate Director of Social Services confirmed the jewelry had vanished.
The facility's own policies promised comprehensive protection for resident belongings. The "Theft and Loss" policy, revised in January 2025, stated: "It was the policy of the facility to protect and safeguard the belongings of its residents."
That policy required all valuables to be labeled and listed on the resident personal property inventory upon admission. Items brought to or removed from the facility were supposed to be added or deleted from the inventory list by facility representatives at the time of the change.
The facility also maintained a "Resident Rights" policy acknowledging that residents have the right to retain and use personal possessions "to the maximum extent that space and safety permit." That policy dated to December 2016.
Yet none of these written protections prevented Resident 1's necklace from disappearing.
When asked about the loss, the Associate Director of Social Services acknowledged that "residents should not lose their personal belongings in the facility." The statement came during a November 26 interview at 2:27 p.m., hours after staff had confirmed the necklace was missing.
The inspection occurred following a complaint to federal regulators. The November 26 survey focused on whether the facility honored residents' rights to be treated with respect and dignity while retaining their personal possessions.
Inspectors found the facility failed to ensure Resident 1's belongings remained safe. The deficiency affected few residents but represented actual harm to those involved.
For Resident 1, the loss carried particular significance. The heart necklace represented a connection to her youth and education, worn continuously since her high school graduation. Now, with moderately impaired cognition from dementia, she had lost both the jewelry and likely any clear memory of where it might have gone.
The facility's liability policy contained a notable limitation. It stated the facility "shall not be liable for items which have not been requested to be included in the inventory or for items which have been deleted from the inventory." But Resident 1's necklace was properly inventoried, making this exception irrelevant to her case.
The Associate Director of Social Services reviewed Resident 1's admission record during the inspection, confirming her diagnoses and the timeline of her care. The resident had been admitted on an unspecified date with her multiple medical conditions already documented.
Her most recent assessment, completed October 2, showed her cognitive impairment and need for eating assistance. The Minimum Data Set assessment tool revealed the extent of her mental decline while documenting her ongoing care requirements.
The inspection narrative provided no details about how the necklace disappeared, when staff discovered it missing, or what efforts were made to locate it. The facility's response to the loss remained undocumented in the federal report.
Federal inspectors classified the violation as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" to residents. The finding affected few residents overall, suggesting the problem was limited to Resident 1's specific case rather than a systemic failure affecting multiple patients.
The nursing home now faces federal oversight to correct the deficiency and prevent similar losses. But for Resident 1, the correction comes too late to restore her high school graduation necklace or the memories it represented.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Artesia Christian Home Inc. from 2025-11-26 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.