Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain resident dignity during meal service on the East Wing, as evidenced by multiple observations and staff interviews. Residents seated together at dining tables did not receive their meal trays at the same time, resulting in some residents watching others eat or waiting extended periods for their own meals. In one instance, a resident who was asleep at the table awoke and consumed another resident's drink and ice cream while no staff were present in the dining room. Another resident was observed sitting with a half-eaten lunch and a blanket over his head, still at the table more than an hour after the meal had ended. Additionally, a resident was seen waiting outside her room for her meal tray while her roommate had already received hers, and other residents at a table received their trays several minutes apart. Staff interviews revealed a lack of training and awareness regarding the importance of serving meals simultaneously to residents seated together. CNAs and nursing staff indicated that meal trays are delivered based on room order and not coordinated for those dining together, and the kitchen staff were not informed about which residents eat in the dining room. The DON acknowledged that staff should be aware of the need to serve meals together and agreed that the observed practices were dignity concerns. Furthermore, a nurse was observed administering eye drops to a resident at the dining table, which was confirmed by the DON as inappropriate. The facility's policy on promoting and maintaining resident dignity was not followed, as staff actions did not ensure respect and dignity during meal times.