Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Meal Assistance
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to provide care and services in a manner that maintained and promoted dignity for a resident who required substantial to maximal assistance with eating due to bilateral shoulder fractures. During observation and interview, a CNA assisted the resident with only four large bites of oatmeal before leaving the room to deliver other food trays, leaving the resident unattended for 11 minutes before returning to continue assistance. The resident expressed that they needed to be fed because they could not move their arms and noted that staff seemed very busy with other residents. The CNA confirmed that their practice was to give the resident a few bites and then return after distributing other trays. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that care staff needed help with tray services and had requested leadership assistance. The Administrator stated that their expectation was for staff to only place a tray in front of a resident when they were ready to assist with the entire meal, in order to promote dignity. The facility's policy required that residents be supported and provided with a dignified dining experience.