Residents Labeled as 'Feeders' in Staff Assignments
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to treat twelve residents who required feeding assistance with respect and dignity by referring to them as "feeders" and maintaining a list labeled as such for staff assignment purposes. Staff, including CNAs, LVNs, the DON, and the MDS coordinator, consistently used the term "feeders" to identify and assign residents needing feeding assistance. This terminology was used in staff communications, written lists, and verbal exchanges, and was acknowledged by multiple staff members during interviews. The list of "feeders" was used to distribute workload among staff, and the term was used both in conversation and in written documentation. The residents involved had significant medical needs, including diagnoses such as diabetes Type 2, muscle weakness, Parkinson's disease, quadriplegia, schizophrenia, hypertension, and anxiety disorder. Most of these residents had severely impaired cognition and required substantial or maximal assistance with all activities of daily living, including eating. Some residents had intact cognition but still required extensive assistance. The use of the term "feeders" was applied regardless of cognitive status, and staff described entire rooms as being "feeders" and discussed their care in these terms. Facility policy required that residents be treated with dignity and respect, including being addressed by their name of choice and prohibiting demeaning practices. However, staff interviews and record reviews confirmed that the practice of labeling and referring to residents as "feeders" was routine and accepted among staff, despite the policy. The report notes that this practice caused or had the potential to cause depression among the affected residents.