Failure to Offer Nutritive Food Substitutions and Vegetable Alternatives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food substitutions of similar nutritive value for residents who did not want or could not eat the vegetables or entrees served at meals. Observations showed that only one vegetable and one entree option were available daily for lunch and supper, and the substitution menu did not include any vegetable alternatives. The only substitutes offered for main entrees were hot dogs, corn dogs, or grilled cheese, with no comparable options for vegetables. During meal service, residents who did not like the vegetables served were not offered any alternative, and staff confirmed that no vegetable substitutions were available. Multiple residents reported that they consistently received only one choice for lunch and supper, and if they did not want the main entree, their only options were limited to the same few items. Residents also stated that they were never offered a substitute for vegetables and often left them uneaten. Staff interviews confirmed that substitutions for vegetables were not provided, and the facility's substitution policy was not followed regarding offering alternatives that consider residents' likes and dislikes. These failures had the potential to affect all 60 residents in the facility.