Lack of Homelike Dining Experience in Unit Day/Dining Rooms
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a homelike dining experience for residents during breakfast and dinner meals in the day/dining rooms on both nursing units. Observations revealed that meals were served on trays with dishes, drinks, and flatware left on the trays, creating an institutional appearance. There were no centerpieces or table linens on the tables, and residents expressed that the environment felt crowded and less homelike. The facility's main dining room was not open for breakfast or dinner, leaving residents to eat in the unit day/dining rooms or their bedrooms. Interviews with staff, including the Activities Director and Certified Nursing Assistants, indicated a lack of awareness and guidance regarding the removal of meal trays to create a more homelike environment. The facility's policy on meal distribution did not address the need for a homelike dining experience. The Administrator and Regional Vice President of Operations acknowledged the issue and mentioned plans to improve the dining environment, but these actions were not part of the deficiency findings.
Plan Of Correction
1. Ensured trays and lids were removed from the tables during all meals in the day room areas, tablecloths and centerpieces were ordered on. The dining room was opened on for dinner, then scheduled to open the following day for breakfast. 2. Observed all dining areas and corrected all issues found at that time. Daily observation of the day room areas and dining room to ensure that resident meals are served in a homelike environment with tablecloths and centerpieces, as well as the trays being removed under the plate and lids removed from table. 3. Educate all staff on removing trays and lids from table for all meals with an emphasis on meals served in day rooms. Audit of two meals per day to ensure that meals are set properly on table in the dining room and day rooms, without lids on tables, tablecloths and centerpieces in place including cleanliness. The dining room is now scheduled to be opened for breakfast, lunch, and dinner according to facility policy. 4. 5 Random Quality reviews will be completed weekly, including weekends by weekend supervisor or designee. The audits will include homelike environment, such as plates and lids removed from trays for all meals and main dining room open for all meals. Audit will include observation of tablecloths and centerpieces to ensure compliance. 5. NHA/DON will conduct a quality review on mealtimes being set properly and homelike environment components are in place. This will be conducted 5x weekly for 4 weeks, then weekly for 2 months.