Failure to Provide Consistent Access to Meals and Snacks According to Resident Preferences
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals and snacks were provided in accordance with residents' needs, preferences, and requests. Residents reported a significant gap of up to 15 hours between dinner and breakfast, with dinner served between 4:15 and 5:00 PM and breakfast at 8:00 AM. Residents had to request snacks before the kitchen staff left at 6:00 PM, or they would go without food until breakfast. Some residents resorted to ordering food from outside the facility due to inconsistent access to after-hours snacks. Observations confirmed that residents did not have independent access to snacks, as kitchen and storage areas were off-limits, and there were no posted instructions on how to obtain food after hours. Residents were also seen storing food in their rooms. Interviews with the Kitchen Manager revealed that while snacks were available by pre-order or could be prepared by LNs, CNAs, or housekeepers, many residents were unaware of these options. The process for assessing resident satisfaction with meal times and snack availability was informal and not consistently documented. There was no formal written policy for late-night or after-hours snacks, and the existing snack tracking system was not consistently used. The only written policy available was a copied document from a previous owner, with handwritten amendments and corrections, indicating a lack of clear, current procedures for ensuring residents' nutritional needs were met outside scheduled meal times.