Failure to Provide Drinks Consistent with Resident Preferences
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor residents' drink preferences by not providing caffeinated coffee or tea, despite residents' requests and the absence of medical contraindications. Interviews with dietary staff revealed that residents were only offered decaffeinated beverages, based on a previous directive from the former DON, and staff believed caffeinated drinks were not allowed due to their stimulant properties. The Medical Director was unaware of any restriction on caffeinated coffee and confirmed there was no known medical reason to prohibit it. Residents expressed dissatisfaction, stating they preferred regular coffee and were told it was not available due to budget constraints or concerns about medication interactions. The facility's policy requires that residents be provided with drinks consistent with their needs and preferences, but this was not followed. The deficiency had the potential to affect all residents except for two who were NPO. The Resident Council President and other residents confirmed that they were recently informed of the restriction on caffeinated beverages, and many disliked the decaffeinated alternatives. The facility census at the time was 70.