Facility Fails to Provide Designated Dining Room for Residents
Summary
The facility failed to provide a designated dining room for residents, as required by federal regulations, the approved floor plan, and facility policy. This deficiency was identified during a survey conducted by surveyors who met with the Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) and the Director of Nursing (DON). The LNHA admitted that since her tenure began, there had been no physical dining area, resulting in the absence of communal dining services for the 126 residents. Instead, the facility offered room tray services. The surveyors noted that the facility was approved for communal dining on the first floor, according to the submitted floor plan, but this service was not being provided. Further investigation revealed that during a resident council meeting, four residents expressed a desire for communal dining, which was not being offered. The facility's Accommodation of Needs Policy, updated in April 2024, stated that residents' individual needs and preferences should be accommodated, including their dining preferences. However, the facility failed to adhere to this policy by not providing a communal dining option. The survey team communicated these concerns to the facility management, but no additional information was provided during the exit conference.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
Insufficient dining space left residents who required feeding assistance waiting in the adjoining TV activity area while others ate. Staff reported that the feeding table could not seat all 16 residents needing help at once, so residents were rotated in as seats became available. Observations showed a large round table and a small square table with no room for additional seating or extra tables, and residents were seen waiting there on multiple occasions.
A resident was served lunch in the 4th floor dining room but had to carry the tray around while looking for a seat because no chairs were available. The resident stood while holding the meal and ate part of the sandwich before staff provided a chair. The Maintenance Director stated the facility had enough chairs and that extra chairs would be brought to the floor if needed.
The facility did not serve meals at the posted times, with lunch, breakfast, and dinner consistently delayed. A resident reported that meals often arrived late, and a CNA confirmed that residents were upset by the unpredictability. Observations showed lunch trays were served in the dining room and delivered to resident rooms well after the scheduled time, and the Dietary Manager stated that meal plating began at the posted time, causing further delays.
The facility did not provide access to a dining room for residents on weekends, as observed during a survey. On one observed day, the dining area was not set up for resident use, and staff confirmed that the dining room had been closed on weekends for an extended period due to staffing shortages. A resident expressed a preference for dining in the dining room, citing more menu options. The dining room was available and in use on weekdays, but not on weekends.
The facility failed to provide adequate dining space for dependent residents in the Blue Unit, leading to congestion and restricted movement during meals. Observations revealed that the dining room was overcrowded with residents in wheelchairs and Geri reclining chairs, making it difficult for staff to assist residents effectively. The DON acknowledged the issue, citing staffing constraints as a reason for the limited seating arrangement.
The facility failed to provide adequate dining space, affecting 57 residents. Observations showed overcrowding with wheelchairs and walkers, hindering movement and requiring staff to stand while assisting residents. Interviews confirmed these challenges, and the DON acknowledged the need for better flow and seating arrangements during meals.
Insufficient Dining Space for Residents Requiring Feeding Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure there was sufficient space in the dining room to accommodate residents who required assistance with feeding. During observations on 03/09/2026, Resident #3 and Resident #35 were seen sitting in the adjoining TV activity section of the dining room while other residents were eating lunch. A CNA told S10TN that these residents were waiting to eat at the feeding table because space was not available. Later that morning, Resident #3 and Resident #35 were moved to the feeding table when space became available. On 03/10/2026, Resident #35 was again observed waiting in the adjoining TV activity section of the dining room to eat because there were no available seats at the feeding table. S10TN stated the facility did not have enough space to seat all residents who required feeding at once, so staff rotated residents out of the table as others finished eating. An observation of the feeding area showed a large round table and a small square table with no space for additional residents, staff, or extra tables. On 03/11/2026, Resident #121 was also observed waiting in the TV activity section to eat. S1DON stated there were 16 residents who had to be fed and it was not feasible for all of them to sit at the table at one time, so CNAs brought all of the residents needing feeding to the dining room and seated them in the TV activity section while waiting for space at the feeding table.
Insufficient Seating in Dining Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure adequate seating was available for a resident in the 4th floor dining room. On 1/5/26 at approximately 1:25 PM, the resident was served lunch on a tray at the steam table and carried the tray through the dining room looking for a seat, but no chairs were available. The resident stood in the dining room while holding the meal and ate half of a grilled cheese sandwich before staff provided a chair. On 1/7/26, the Maintenance Director stated that the facility had enough chairs in each dining room and said extra chairs would be brought to the floor if needed. The facility policy on the order of meals served states that dining rooms with open dining will serve the resident in a timely manner after being seated.
Failure to Serve Meals at Posted Times Disrupts Resident Dining Experience
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve meals to residents at the posted serving times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Observations and interviews revealed that lunch, which was scheduled for 12:30 pm, was consistently served late, with the first tray being served in the dining room at 12:51 pm and the last at 1:11 pm on one day, and similar delays observed on the following day. Trays delivered to resident rooms in the north and south halls were also delayed, with the first trays not arriving until well after the posted lunch time. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the kitchen begins plating food at the posted time rather than having meals ready to serve, resulting in further delays. Residents and staff reported ongoing issues with meal timeliness. One resident stated that all meals, including breakfast and dinner, are always late, sometimes with breakfast arriving as late as 9:00 am and lunch and dinner being served significantly after the scheduled times. A CNA confirmed that residents become upset due to the unpredictability of meal delivery. These consistent delays in meal service disrupted the residents' dining experience as meals were not provided at the times posted by the facility.
Dining Room Not Available for Resident Use on Weekends
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a designated dining room for residents to dine in on at least one of the four days observed. During a tour of the dining area on a Sunday, the room was found to be clean but had dim lighting and was not set up to accommodate residents for lunch. No residents were observed eating in the dining room during this time. Staff interviews confirmed that the dining room was not open on weekends due to staffing shortages, and this practice had been ongoing for an extended period. The Certified Dietary Manager stated that they were waiting for increased weekend staffing, and a Dietician Tech confirmed that the dining room had not been open on weekends since at least June 2022. Resident interviews indicated a preference for dining in the dining room, with one resident noting more menu options available there compared to eating in their room. On a weekday, the dining area was observed in use by about 15 residents, with dietary staff present and assisting. The Administrator acknowledged that the dining room closure on weekends was initially due to CDC COVID guidelines, but these guidelines had changed three months prior to the survey. Despite this, the dining room remained closed on weekends, and the facility was in the process of planning for its reopening.
Inadequate Dining Space for Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate dining space for dependent residents requiring staff assistance during meals in the Blue Unit. Observations on March 18 and March 19, 2025, revealed that the dining room was congested with residents in wheelchairs and Geri reclining chairs, making it difficult for staff to pass through, set up meal trays, and assist residents effectively. The limited space also restricted residents' ability to maneuver safely within the room. During an interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the clinical nurse consultant, it was acknowledged that the dining area was a tight fit during meals. The DON stated that due to staffing constraints, there was only one seating for each meal in the dependent resident dining rooms. This setup compromised the ability of staff to efficiently assist residents with meals and restricted residents' movement, creating an environment that did not support a dignified and comfortable dining experience.
Insufficient Dining Space Affects Resident Safety and Experience
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient space for dining, which affected the dining experience and safety of all 57 residents. During observations on two separate occasions, the dining area was noted to be overcrowded with residents' wheelchairs and walkers, making it difficult for both residents and staff to move around. This congestion led to incidents such as a resident's wheelchair wheels getting caught on another resident's wheelchair, and staff having to stand while assisting residents with eating due to the lack of space. Interviews with CNAs confirmed the challenges faced during mealtimes, as they often had to stand to assist residents due to the crowded conditions. The DON acknowledged the issue, stating that the expectation is for residents to have an easier flow for getting in and out during meals, and that staff should be seated at eye level with residents to better assess them. The facility was in the process of addressing the space issue to improve the dining experience for residents and staff.
Trusted data from CMS and state health departments
Every citation, penalty and Plan of Correction is sourced from public CMS records (latest release July 29, 2026) and official state health department websites — never guesswork.
In your survey window? See what surveyors are citing.
The Survey-Prep Report maps your facility's risk from 12 months of CMS and state citation data — what's being cited around you and what to check first. $129 one-time.