Failure to Honor Resident's Dining Location Preference
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to choose their preferred dining location during mealtimes. The resident, who had diagnoses including bullous pemphigoid, dementia, and hemiplegia/hemiparesis following a stroke, was assessed as having severely impaired cognitive skills and required moderate assistance with eating and full assistance with transfers. Despite a documented request from the resident's family members for the resident to eat meals in the dining room, staff determined the meal location based on the CNA's decision or upon family request during visitation, rather than consistently honoring the resident's or family's stated preference. Review of the resident's care plan revealed no documented interventions addressing the preference for dining location, and staff interviews confirmed that this preference was not incorporated into the care plan. Facility policies indicated that residents should be allowed to choose their schedules and activities, including meal locations, but these policies were not followed in practice for this resident. The lack of a care plan intervention and inconsistent respect for the resident's and family's wishes led to a failure to promote the resident's right to self-determination and a dignified existence.