Inadequate Dining Room Seating
Summary
The facility failed to accommodate all residents in the dining room during mealtimes, as observed on multiple occasions. The dining room was equipped with only 40 chairs, while the north side of the facility housed 50 residents. This lack of seating resulted in residents having to wait in line or be sent back to their rooms until a seat became available. On several occasions, residents were observed standing in the dining room or at the entrance, waiting for a seat, and were instructed by a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to wait against the wall or return to their rooms. Interviews with the CNA and the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed that the dining room could not accommodate all residents simultaneously, leading to the practice of having residents wait or return to their rooms. The DON acknowledged that this practice could negatively impact residents' feelings, as they were made to wait to eat. The facility's policy indicated that meals should be distributed promptly and that residents should be encouraged to sit in a dining room chair, highlighting a discrepancy between policy and practice.
Penalty
Resources
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The facility failed to provide adequate dining space for residents on the secured unit, affecting 17 residents. During meals, staff had to move residents to accommodate others, resulting in some eating off bedside tables and limited interaction. Observations showed cramped conditions with minimal space between wheelchairs, highlighting the inadequacy of the dining area.
Inadequate Dining Space for Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide adequate dining space for residents on the secured unit, affecting 17 residents. During a lunch observation, 15 residents were seated in the dining room, which had four square tables, one against a wall, leaving no open seats. A State tested Nursing Assistant (STNA) had to move a resident to a sitting area to accommodate another resident, resulting in the first resident eating off a bedside table without interaction until the rest of their meal arrived. This indicates insufficient space for all residents to dine together comfortably. Further observations during dinner revealed that residents seated back-to-back had minimal space between their wheelchairs. An STNA had to move a resident to make room for another, highlighting the cramped conditions. The facility census confirmed 17 residents on the secured unit, underscoring the inadequacy of the dining area to accommodate all residents simultaneously, leading to disruptions in meal service and resident interaction.
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