Insufficient Dietary Staffing Leads to Delayed Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient dietary staff to ensure timely meal service for residents, as evidenced by interviews, observations, and record reviews. The Director of Food and Beverage (DFB) confirmed that the department was operating with 63 staff members instead of the required 75, and that efforts to recruit and orient new staff were ongoing. Due to staffing shortages, the third-floor satellite kitchenette was closed, and meals for that floor were being served from the second floor, further straining the available staff and impacting meal delivery times. Multiple residents reported and were observed experiencing significant delays in meal service. One resident stated that breakfast was an hour late and dinner was two hours late on a previous occasion. During a dining observation, several residents waited extended periods for their meal trays, with some expressing frustration and discomfort. Staff confirmed that kitchen staffing shortages led to delayed meal service, and that all meals for certain floors had to be prepared and delivered from other locations within the facility, resulting in some residents not receiving their meals until well after the scheduled times. Facility policies reviewed indicated that food and nutrition services are expected to provide adequate staffing to meet residents' dietary needs and ensure timely meal delivery. However, the observed and reported delays, as well as the closure of a satellite kitchen due to lack of staff, demonstrated that the facility was not meeting its own standards or the needs of its residents. The deficiency affected a large number of residents who rely on the facility for their daily nutrition and meal service.