Failure to Provide Routine Nutritious Evening Snacks
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to routinely offer nutritious snacks as desired by residents, as evidenced by interviews with six alert and oriented residents who expressed that snacks were not routinely offered in the evening, despite their preference for an evening nutritious snack. The facility's policy, dated September 2024, states that there should be no more than 14 hours between dinner and breakfast unless a nourishing snack is provided at bedtime, allowing up to 16 hours between meals if agreed upon by a resident group. However, observations revealed limited snack availability, with only one fruit bar, five oatmeal cookies, one single-serve applesauce container, and one can of chicken soup available for 54 residents on the third floor, as confirmed by a nursing assistant. This deficiency was noted under 28 Pa. Code 211.12 (d)(1) Nursing services.
Plan Of Correction
a. Nursing home administrator/designee immediately audit nursing units to ensure nutritious snacks were available on the units for residents and there were no adverse effects to residents related to snacks. b. Nursing home administrator/designee educated dietary and nursing department staff on F809 and nutritious snack availability on the units and daily during the evening. c. Nursing home administrator/designee will randomly audit 3 residents on each unit daily x 5 days; weekly x3 weeks; monthly x2 months to ensure snacks are available/offered and that enough snacks are available on the unit. e. Findings will be summarized and brought to the quality assurance and performance improvement committee and reviewed for any further monitoring and changes needed.