Dining Room Not Available for Resident Use on Weekends
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a designated dining room for residents to dine in on at least one of the four days observed. During a tour of the dining area on a Sunday, the room was found to be clean but had dim lighting and was not set up to accommodate residents for lunch. No residents were observed eating in the dining room during this time. Staff interviews confirmed that the dining room was not open on weekends due to staffing shortages, and this practice had been ongoing for an extended period. The Certified Dietary Manager stated that they were waiting for increased weekend staffing, and a Dietician Tech confirmed that the dining room had not been open on weekends since at least June 2022. Resident interviews indicated a preference for dining in the dining room, with one resident noting more menu options available there compared to eating in their room. On a weekday, the dining area was observed in use by about 15 residents, with dietary staff present and assisting. The Administrator acknowledged that the dining room closure on weekends was initially due to CDC COVID guidelines, but these guidelines had changed three months prior to the survey. Despite this, the dining room remained closed on weekends, and the facility was in the process of planning for its reopening.