Failure to Accommodate Resident Food Allergies and Preferences
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including type 2 diabetes mellitus, muscle weakness, major depressive disorder, essential hypertension, and blindness in one eye was not provided with food that accommodated their documented allergies and preferences. The resident was cognitively intact, as indicated by a Brief Interview for Mental Status score of 14. On observation, the resident received a lunch tray containing shrimp, rice, corn on the cob, and apple pie alamode. The meal ticket on the tray documented allergies to cheese, dairy products, ice cream, milk, and yogurt, as well as dislikes for apple, applesauce, bratwurst sausage, and corn. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident should not have been served ice cream due to a dairy allergy, nor apples or corn due to documented dislikes. The Director of Dietary stated that residents' food allergies and dislikes should not be served, and that the diet card for each resident should be followed. The facility's Food Preference Policy requires identification and accommodation of resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, and prohibits serving foods that cause allergic or intolerance reactions. Despite these policies, the resident was served food items that did not accommodate their allergies and preferences.