Failure to Provide Dignified Meal Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were provided meal assistance in a respectful and dignified manner, as required by policy and resident rights. Observations revealed that multiple CNAs were standing while feeding residents who were seated, with one instance where a CNA stood directly in front of a resident, resulting in the resident's head being at the CNA's chest level. Additionally, CNAs were observed walking around the dining room, feeding several residents while standing, and not sitting down to provide individualized attention during meals. The facility's policy specifically states that a tray may not be placed in front of a dependent feeder until someone is ready to sit down and immediately feed them, which was not followed in these instances. Interviews with staff confirmed these practices, with one CNA stating she never sits down in the dining room and prefers to feed residents a mouthful of food before moving on to another resident, then returning to the first. The DON acknowledged that her expectation is for staff to be seated while feeding residents. These actions and inactions resulted in a failure to provide meal assistance in a manner that promotes respect, dignity, and enhancement of residents' quality of life and individuality for six residents across three units.