Failure to Provide Menu Choices and Serve Meals as Listed
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the nutritional needs and preferences of all residents were met as required. Staff did not consistently serve food items listed on the posted menu, nor did they provide residents with the opportunity to select their meal choices from the menu or alternate menu in advance of meal service. For example, during a lunch meal service, a resident was served a cubed pork with peppers sandwich instead of the sausage pizza listed on the menu, and the alternate menu option was not provided. The Corporate Chef was unable to explain why the resident received a meal not listed on either the main or alternate menu, speculating it may have been due to a dairy allergy, but could not confirm this or provide a rationale for the substitution. Additionally, residents were not asked in advance about their meal preferences, and substitutions were made without informing them beforehand. One resident reported being served incomplete meals, such as two pieces of toast without any other items, and expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with the food service, stating that repeated complaints to staff had not resulted in changes. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the facility did not have a process for residents to select their meals in advance and that residents were not informed of substitutions prior to meal service, relying instead on residents to request alternate menu items if they did not like what was served.