Failure to Provide Snacks and Alternative Meals Outside Scheduled Times
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide suitable and nourishing alternative meals and snacks to residents who wished to eat at non-traditional times or outside of scheduled meal service, as required by their care plans. Despite having documented procedures and par lists for stocking snacks and beverages on the nursing units, observations revealed that snack items were not consistently available in the unit kitchenettes or refrigerators. Multiple observations across several units found refrigerators either empty or containing only minimal items such as beverages, cheese, or a small number of sandwiches and snacks. Residents reported during a council meeting that they did not receive bedtime snacks and that snacks were not available on the units. Interviews with certified nurse aides indicated that staff access to snacks was hindered by frequent changes to the kitchenette door codes, which were not always communicated to all staff. Some staff reported resorting to hiding snacks or storing them in employee refrigerators to ensure residents could receive snacks when requested. The lack of access to the kitchenettes and inconsistent stocking practices resulted in residents being unable to obtain snacks outside of scheduled meal times, contrary to facility policy and resident care plans. The Food Service Director confirmed that the facility had changed its snack distribution process, intending for snacks to be stocked on the units and accessible to staff. However, the director acknowledged that staff sometimes claimed not to know the codes to the kitchenettes, and that resident snack items should not be stored with employee food. Despite these procedures, the survey found that the intended system was not effectively implemented, leading to the deficiency in providing residents with access to snacks and alternative meals as needed.