Facility Fails to Serve Palatable and Attractive Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food that was palatable and attractive, as evidenced by observations and resident interviews. During a Resident Council meeting, 11 alert and oriented residents reported that the chicken served was dry. Observations during the lunch meal on the same day confirmed these complaints, with multiple residents refusing to eat the chicken due to it being dry or cold. Specific instances included a resident refusing to eat because the chicken was dry, another resident spitting out the chicken, and others describing it as hard and inedible. Further observations revealed that some residents were unable to cut or eat the chicken due to its overcooked and dry nature. Interviews with several alert and oriented residents consistently described the chicken as very dry and inedible. These findings indicate a failure by the facility to meet the requirement of serving food that is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature, affecting all 20 residents reviewed.
Plan Of Correction
1. Cooks were educated on proper cooking methods for chicken. Residents who did not like their meal were offered alternatives. 2. The Food Committee will discuss concerns with any other foods. Education to Cooks to ensure that they are cooking meals the appropriate way. 3. Education to staff that if residents are not happy with a meal to alert administration and offer an alternative. 4. Random audits by the Administrator/designee of 5 residents to ensure that they are happy with their meal and that it was nutritious, appeared nice, palatable, and at preferred temperature once a week for one month, twice a week for one month, and once a month for one month. The findings of the audits will be brought to the monthly Quality Assurance Improvement Committee (QAPI) meeting for a period of three months. Any revisions to the audit plan will be reviewed and implemented with coordination of the interdisciplinary team at the QAPI Committee meeting.