Failure to Accommodate Resident Food and Drink Preferences
Penalty
Summary
A resident with diagnoses including diabetes, end stage renal disease, hemodialysis, heart failure, and high cholesterol was not provided with food and drink that accommodated his stated preferences. Despite repeated requests over several weeks for specific items such as a turkey sandwich with cheese for lunch, tea instead of milk, and dry cereal for breakfast, these preferences were not honored by the facility. As a result, the resident refused to eat the food provided by the facility and relied on outside food brought in by family members, leading to feelings of malnourishment and weakness. Interviews with staff revealed ongoing miscommunication between nursing and kitchen staff regarding the resident's diet waiver, which allowed him to eat preferred foods. The Food Services Director acknowledged the miscommunication and confirmed that the resident's preferences had not been consistently accommodated. Facility policy requires that food and drink be provided in accordance with resident preferences, but this was not followed in the resident's case.