Unqualified Staff Provided Feeding Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that staff providing feeding assistance were properly qualified and trained, as required by state law. Review of personnel files and direct observation revealed that an activity aide, who was previously hired as a receptionist and later transferred to the activities department, was providing hands-on feeding assistance to two residents during a lunch meal. The activity aide's job descriptions for both positions did not include feeding assistance duties, and there was no evidence in the personnel file of any training or qualifications related to feeding assistance. The two residents involved had documented needs for assistance with eating due to self-care performance deficits, with one resident also exhibiting dysphagia and being at risk for aspiration and weight loss. One resident required a mechanically altered diet per physician order. Despite these needs, the activity aide, who lacked documented training or qualifications, was observed feeding both residents. The nursing home administrator confirmed that nursing staff are responsible for providing feeding assistance, further highlighting the inappropriate assignment of duties.