Failure to Honor Resident Food Preferences During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident's food preferences were honored during meal service. The resident, who had diagnoses including schizoaffective disorder bipolar type, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and difficulty in walking, was cognitively intact according to the Minimum Data Set assessment. The resident's care plan and physician orders specified a regular diet with regular texture and thin consistency, but did not include orders for Boost or chocolate milk. However, the resident's meal tickets indicated a standing order for Boost Very Vanilla at breakfast and a note for chocolate milk at lunch. The resident reported not receiving Boost at breakfast and noted its absence on the meal ticket. At lunch, the resident also did not receive the requested chocolate milk. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the resident's preferences were not honored, stating that the facility had run out of chocolate milk and the resident should have received another Boost as a substitute. Facility policies reviewed indicated that meals should accommodate resident preferences and therapeutic diets should be provided as needed, in collaboration with the resident, family, dietitian, and physician. Despite these policies, the resident's stated preferences for Boost and chocolate milk were not met during the observed meals.