Failure to Provide Adaptive Eating Equipment
Summary
The facility failed to provide adaptive eating equipment and utensils to nine residents who required them during meals. These residents had various diagnoses, including dementia, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and other conditions that necessitated the use of adaptive equipment such as sippy cups, nosey cups, and built-up utensils to assist with their nutritional intake. Observations revealed that these residents were not provided with the necessary equipment during meal times, despite care plans and diet instruction sheets indicating their need for such aids. For instance, Resident #41, who had dementia and abnormal weight loss, was observed without a sippy cup, which was recommended to help her drink fluids independently. Similarly, Resident #37, who required a nosey cup due to coordination issues, was not provided with one during meals. Staff interviews revealed a lack of awareness and understanding of the residents' needs, with some staff members being agency workers unfamiliar with the specific requirements of the residents they were assisting. The facility's Director of Rehabilitation and Dietary Manager confirmed the shortage of adaptive equipment, stating that the facility had insufficient supplies, such as only one nosey cup and no sippy cups available. This lack of equipment had been ongoing for several months, leading to a rotation system where residents would receive the necessary equipment only at certain meals. The deficiency was identified during a complaint investigation, highlighting the facility's failure to ensure the availability and use of adaptive equipment as recommended for the residents' independence and nutritional well-being.
Penalty
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Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with renal failure and legal blindness, who required set-up assistance for meals, had physician orders for a renal diet with specific food restrictions and the use of a blue scoop bowl and plate guard. During multiple observed meals, the tray line provided only a plate guard and no scoop bowl, despite the meal ticket indicating the need for both. Dietary staff reported that previously available scoop bowls could no longer be found anywhere in the facility, resulting in the resident not receiving the ordered adaptive equipment during the observed meal services.
Surveyors found that the facility did not provide adequate and appropriate eating utensils with resident meal trays. Observations showed meal trays being passed with only a spoon, sometimes plastic, and no additional utensils or napkins, with brown paper towels substituted instead. Dietary staff reported an ongoing shortage of metal silverware, napkins, and sometimes juice cups, and stated that plastic utensils were used for about half of all trays over several months. Several cognitively intact residents on various diets, some needing set-up assistance and others independent with eating, reported frequently receiving only a spoon, receiving plastic utensils for many meals, or occasionally receiving no utensils at all, and these reports were confirmed by concurrent observation of their lunch trays. Facility policy required that meals be served using reusable dishes and flatware, and administration acknowledged residents should receive appropriate silverware for all meals.
Two residents with severe cognitive and physical impairments did not receive the adaptive eating equipment prescribed in their care plans and physician orders during meal service. Observations confirmed that required items such as sippy cups and divided plates were missing from meal trays, despite being listed on tray tickets and documented as necessary for independent eating and drinking. Staff verified the absence of these devices during the survey.
Surveyors observed that meals and drinks were consistently served in disposable Styrofoam containers and cups due to an inadequate supply of dishes. The DM confirmed the shortage, and a resident stated that meals are always served on disposable products, with regular dishes rarely provided.
A resident with multiple medical conditions and feeding difficulties did not receive the ordered adaptive eating equipment, including a Kennedy cup and built-up utensils, during a meal. Despite physician orders and care plan interventions specifying these devices, the resident's tray was missing them, and this was confirmed by both the resident and an LPN. Facility policy requires provision of such adaptive devices for those who need them, but this was not followed.
A resident with multiple sclerosis and muscle weakness did not receive ordered adaptive eating equipment, such as built-up utensils and a two-handled mug, during meals. Observations and staff interviews revealed a lack of communication and coordination between the kitchen and nursing staff, resulting in the resident using regular silverware and a plastic cup. The facility's policy on assistive devices was not followed, potentially affecting other residents with similar needs.
Failure to Provide Ordered Adaptive Eating Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide ordered adaptive eating equipment for a resident who required it. The resident was admitted with diagnoses including hypertensive urgency, renal dialysis, glaucoma, and legal blindness. A quarterly MDS assessment documented that the resident was independent in daily decision making but required set-up assistance for meals. Physician orders specified a renal diet with regular texture and thin liquids, double protein, several food restrictions, an 1800 milliliter fluid restriction, and the use of a blue scoop bowl and plate guard related to renal failure. During a supper meal observation, the resident’s meal ticket indicated the need for both a blue scoop bowl and a plate guard, but the tray was prepared with only a plate guard. Further observations of subsequent meal tray lines showed that the required scoop bowl continued to be unavailable for the resident’s meals. At one lunch service, staff confirmed there were no scoop bowls available for the resident’s tray, despite the order specifying their use. Dietary staff interviews revealed that the facility previously had multiple scoop bowls but they could no longer locate them, and that only three had recently been available before they also went missing. Multiple staff, including dietary aides and the dietary manager, reported they were unable to find any scoop bowls in the kitchen, resident rooms, or on the units at the time of the observations. As a result, the resident did not receive the ordered adaptive equipment during the observed meals.
Failure to Provide Adequate and Appropriate Eating Utensils for Meals
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide adequate and appropriate eating utensils and special eating equipment to residents during meals, as required by facility policy. Surveyor observations on the morning of 01/22/26 showed CNAs passing breakfast trays that contained only a metal spoon, with no additional silverware or utensils present or offered. Later that morning, a dietary aide was observed transporting 15–20 meal trays on an open cart, each tray containing only a plastic spoon placed on a folded brown paper towel next to the covered plate. Interviews with dietary staff revealed there was an ongoing shortage of metal silverware, resulting in plastic utensils being used for at least half of the residents’ trays for each meal. Staff also reported the kitchen had been out of napkins since 01/20/26 and was using folded brown paper towels from a hand towel dispenser instead, and that the facility sometimes ran out of juice cups. One dietary aide stated there had been a shortage of silverware and utensils for at least six months. Review of the facility’s policy titled "Use of Disposable Dishes/Flatware" indicated that resident meals were to be served using reusable dishes and flatware. Multiple residents with varying diagnoses and functional statuses reported and demonstrated that they frequently did not receive appropriate utensils with their meals. Cognitively intact residents on regular, mechanical soft, carbohydrate-controlled, or no concentrated sweets diets, some requiring set-up assistance and others independent with eating, stated they often received only a spoon, sometimes plastic utensils, and at times no utensils at all. Examples included residents reporting receiving only a spoon to eat meat or salad, receiving plastic utensils for about half of their meals, and occasionally having to eat with their fingers. During each of these interviews at lunchtime on 01/22/26, observations confirmed that the residents’ trays contained only a metal spoon. The administrator later confirmed that residents should receive appropriate silverware for all meals, consistent with facility policy. This deficiency represents non-compliance investigated under Complaint Number 2693876.
Failure to Provide Required Adaptive Eating Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide appropriate assistive eating devices to residents who required them, as identified through record review, observation, and staff interviews. Specifically, two residents with severe cognitive impairment and significant physical limitations, including hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and Parkinson's, were observed during meal times without the adaptive equipment prescribed in their care plans and physician orders. For one resident, a sippy cup with lid/spout and a divided plate were ordered and documented as necessary to promote independence with beverages, but the resident did not receive the sippy cup during meal observation. For the second resident, a two-handled sippy cup, built-up utensils, and a scoop plate were ordered, but the resident did not have the two-handled sippy cup at the time of observation. These deficiencies were confirmed by reviewing tray tickets and through verification with two CNAs present during meal service. The issue was identified during a complaint investigation and also had the potential to affect additional residents who were documented as needing adaptive equipment for eating and drinking. The findings were based on direct observation, medical record review, and staff interviews, with no evidence that the required adaptive devices were provided at the time of the survey.
Inadequate Supply of Dishes Leads to Use of Disposable Containers
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide an adequate supply of dishes for residents, resulting in meals and drinks being served in disposable Styrofoam containers and cups. Observations during breakfast and lunch on multiple hallways and in the dining room confirmed the use of disposable products for serving food and fluids. The Dietary Manager verified that there were not enough dishes available, necessitating the use of disposable containers. A resident reported that meals are always served on disposable products and expressed a preference for regular dishes, noting that actual plates are only provided occasionally. These findings were based on direct observations and interviews conducted during the survey.
Failure to Provide Required Adaptive Eating Equipment During Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that all residents requiring assistive eating devices had them available during meal times. Specifically, one resident with diagnoses including diabetes mellitus, respiratory failure with hypoxia, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, dysphagia, and other feeding difficulties, and who had intact cognition, did not receive the ordered adaptive equipment during breakfast. Physician orders and the resident's care plan specified the use of a divided plate, Kennedy cup, and built-up utensils for all meals as tolerated. However, during observation, the resident's breakfast tray only included regular utensils and Styrofoam cups with a lid and straw, and lacked the required Kennedy cup and built-up utensils. The resident confirmed during interview that she preferred and found it easier to use the Kennedy cup and built-up utensils, as these helped her eat and drink without making a mess. Review of the meal ticket on the tray also indicated that adaptive equipment was to be provided. An LPN verified that the resident was supposed to have the Kennedy cup and built-up utensils for all meals, and acknowledged that these were missing from the breakfast tray. Facility policy requires that adaptive devices be provided for residents who need or request them, but this was not followed in this instance.
Failure to Provide Adaptive Eating Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adaptive eating equipment as ordered for Resident #43, who had diagnoses including multiple sclerosis, muscle weakness, and schizoaffective disorder. The resident had a physician's order for built-up utensils and a two-handled mug for all meals, which was not provided. Observations on two separate occasions revealed that the resident's meal tray lacked the necessary adaptive equipment, and the resident was using regular silverware and a plastic cup without handles. Interviews with staff, including a CNA, LPN, and the Dietary Manager, confirmed the absence of adaptive equipment and highlighted a lack of communication and coordination between the kitchen and nursing staff regarding the resident's needs. The Dietary Manager admitted to discrepancies between the kitchen's records and nursing orders for adaptive equipment, acknowledging that an audit to reconcile these differences had not been conducted. The Dietician was unaware of the resident's need for adaptive equipment, indicating a breakdown in communication and oversight. The facility's policy on assistive devices and equipment, which mandates the provision and supervision of such equipment based on comprehensive assessments, was not adhered to in this case. This deficiency had the potential to affect other residents with similar orders for adaptive equipment.
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