Failure to Honor Resident Choice for Dining Room Use at Dinner and Weekends
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor resident choices regarding dining location, specifically by not ensuring that residents could choose to eat in the main dining room during dinner and on weekends. Multiple residents reported that the dining room was only open for breakfast and lunch, and that they were required to eat dinner in their rooms or at tables near the nursing stations. Residents expressed a preference for dining in the main dining room to socialize and enjoy meals with peers, but stated that this option was not available to them for dinner or on weekends. Staff interviews confirmed that the main dining room was not consistently open for dinner due to staffing limitations, and that residents were not always invited or informed about the option to dine in the main dining room during these times. Observations during meal times corroborated resident and staff statements, as the dining room was found to be empty during scheduled dinner service, with residents waiting for their meals in their rooms. Family members and resident representatives also attempted to use the dining room for dinner but were told by staff that it was not open due to lack of supervision. Despite facility policies stating that residents have the right to make choices about significant aspects of their lives, including dining preferences, and documentation indicating that the dining room was supposed to be open for all meals, the practice did not align with these policies. Record review showed that staff had been educated about the reopening of the dining room and that meal times were communicated as being available in the dining room. However, interviews with staff revealed ongoing confusion and inconsistent knowledge about dining room availability, particularly for dinner and weekends. The deficiency was further evidenced by the lack of consistent communication to residents about their dining options and the failure to accommodate resident preferences as outlined in facility policy.