Failure to Accommodate Lactose Intolerance in Dietary Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's preference and medical need for lactose-free milk, despite clear documentation of lactose intolerance and a stated preference for Lactaid at all meals. The resident's admission record, history and physical, and dietary pre-screen all indicated lactose intolerance and a preference for Lactaid. The resident's care plan also specified that the facility would cater to her food preferences. However, during observation, the resident was served low-fat milk with her meal, and her tray card did not indicate her lactose intolerance or preference for Lactaid. The resident reported experiencing abdominal pain and diarrhea when consuming regular milk and stated that she continued to receive low-fat milk with every meal, contrary to her requests. The Dietary Services Supervisor confirmed the resident's lactose intolerance and acknowledged that the provided milk could cause her stomach problems. Facility policy required that resident preferences be detailed on tray cards and that trays be checked for accuracy before delivery, but these procedures were not followed in this case.