Failure to Provide Palatable and Flavorful Meals
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide palatable and flavorful food to four sampled residents. Multiple residents reported that the food served was consistently bland and lacked taste, with one resident keeping extra salt and pepper on hand to compensate. During interviews, residents expressed dissatisfaction with the taste of the meals, describing them as flavorless and unappetizing. These observations were corroborated during a dining observation, where a resident was seen complaining to staff about the lack of flavor in their meal. A review of the facility's menu confirmed the items served, and a test tray tasting conducted by surveyors, the Registered Dietician, and the Dietary Services Supervisor found that the food, specifically the fish and scalloped potatoes, was bland and lacked flavor. The Dietary Services Supervisor acknowledged the importance of providing flavorful meals to support residents' food preferences and dignity. The facility's policy indicated that recipe accuracy concerns should be reported to the Dietician for evaluation and modification as necessary.