Failure to Serve Palatable and Safe-Temperature Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food and drink that was palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature for residents on two units. One resident, who had diagnoses including hemiplegia, type 2 diabetes, and generalized anxiety disorder, was observed receiving a breakfast meal that was not warm, with a dry egg on the sandwich and no detectable warmth from the plate. This resident confirmed in interviews that meals were not served in a timely manner and were not palatable or attractive. The resident's care plan included honoring food preferences and providing meals as ordered, with a goal to maintain adequate nutritional status. Further observations revealed that meal trays delivered to another unit took 55 minutes to be distributed after arrival, exceeding the facility's policy of a 20-minute delivery window. A test tray checked by the Dietary Manager showed that the barbecued chicken was at 21°F, and the carrots and potatoes were at 100°F, which did not meet the facility's guidelines for safe food temperatures. Facility policies required hot foods to be held at 135°F or above and cold foods at 41°F or below. These failures had the potential to affect all residents on the affected units, except for two who did not consume food from the kitchen.