Failure to Provide Palatable and Appropriately Served Food
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to ensure food and drink were palatable, attractive, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature for fifteen of fifty-one sampled residents. Multiple residents reported receiving food that was cold, bland, unappetizing, or not as described on the menu. Specific complaints included cold sausage with brussels sprouts, dry and hard scrambled eggs, canned vegetables, tough chicken, and repeated servings of disliked items such as carrots. Some residents also noted that food was unidentifiable, lacked flavor, or appeared to be leftovers from previous days. Additionally, there were reports of residents not receiving requested items, such as sandwiches for dialysis appointments, and issues with food allergies not being accommodated. During a Resident Council Meeting, several residents echoed these concerns, citing rubbery pancakes, repeated meals, and difficulty accessing or reading the posted menu. Observations of the tray line and test trays confirmed that food temperatures were within facility standards but the food was consistently described as bland and in need of seasoning. The Registered Dietician acknowledged the importance of assessing and documenting residents' food preferences and dislikes, as well as providing alternatives, but the facility's practices did not align with these expectations. The facility's policy stated that residents' food preferences would be adhered to within reason, with substitutes and condiments available unless contraindicated, but these standards were not consistently met.