Failure to Honor Resident's Dietary Preferences and Consistency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to comply with the prescribed meal consistency and dietary preferences for a resident, leading to a deficiency in honoring the resident's right to self-determination and choice. The resident, who had a history of hypertension, chronic debility, hypothyroidism, atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was observed refusing meals due to incorrect consistency and unwanted food items. Despite a physician's order for a minced and moist texture diet, the resident was repeatedly served a pureed diet, which they had previously been removed from. Additionally, the resident's meal ticket indicated a dislike for pork, yet meals containing ham were served, further disregarding the resident's documented preferences. The kitchen manager confirmed the discrepancy between the prescribed minced/moist diet and the pureed diet being served, acknowledging the misunderstanding by the cook who considered both consistencies the same. The facility's policy on resident food preferences, which mandates awareness of resident preferences and allergies, was not adhered to, resulting in the resident's dissatisfaction and meal refusal. The resident's nutritional care plan highlighted the risk of altered nutrition and hydration due to their medical conditions, emphasizing the importance of adhering to dietary preferences to prevent significant weight changes and ensure adequate nutritional intake.