Failure to Provide Bedtime Snacks in Accordance with Resident Needs and Facility Policy
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were provided with a bedtime snack in accordance with their needs, preferences, and requests. Interviews with residents and staff revealed that snacks, which were supposed to be served at bedtime, were instead being distributed with the evening meal at 4:30 PM. Many residents consumed these snacks with their supper, leaving them without food options until breakfast the next morning. Staff reported that the kitchen was locked after supper, and they did not have access to additional snacks to offer residents later in the evening or at night. Multiple staff members, including CNAs and LPNs, stated that the reduction in snack availability was due to budget cuts following a change in facility ownership. Staff also indicated that they sometimes purchased snacks with their own money to provide for residents, as the facility no longer stocked the kitchenette or linen closet with adequate snack options. Observations by the surveyor confirmed that the areas designated for snacks were inadequately stocked, with only minimal items such as a can of peanut butter, a box of oatmeal, and a few pudding cups available, and no bread or other items to make sandwiches. Residents affected by this deficiency included individuals with significant medical histories, such as diabetes, heart failure, and chronic respiratory conditions, who may have specific dietary needs. Despite the facility's policy requiring an evening snack to be offered and documented for each resident, the practice of serving snacks with supper and the lack of accessible snacks throughout the night did not meet the stated policy or regulatory requirements. Staff interviews and direct observation confirmed that the deficiency was facility-wide and had the potential to affect all 37 residents.