Failure to Provide Needed ADL Assistance and Adaptive Equipment During Meals
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to review and provide the necessary assistance and adaptive equipment for a resident requiring help with activities of daily living (ADLs) during meals. The resident, who had a history of using adaptive utensils and a walled plate due to difficulty handling standard silverware, reported that staff did not feed her properly and that adaptive equipment was not consistently provided. Observations showed the resident struggling to eat independently, unable to grasp food items, and having difficulty using regular utensils and cups without lids, resulting in minimal food and fluid intake during meals. Staff interviews confirmed that adaptive equipment had not been reordered after the resident's recent hospitalization, and the care plan only indicated assistance with eating without specifying the need for adaptive devices. Further observations revealed that meals were left uneaten, and the resident continued to have trouble feeding herself due to the lack of appropriate adaptive equipment and staff assistance. Staff acknowledged that therapy had previously worked with the resident on meal-related ADLs and that she was supposed to receive specific adaptive items and feeding assistance, but these interventions were not consistently implemented after her return from the hospital. The facility did not identify or address the resident's ongoing difficulties with eating, resulting in a failure to ensure she maintained her ability to perform this ADL.