Resident Not Served Meal Concurrently with Tablemates
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with right side paralysis, diabetes, and dysphagia was not served his meal at the same time as other residents seated at his table during a dining observation. While two other residents at the table received their meals at 8:22 AM, the resident in question was not served at that time. He was observed looking at the meals of the other residents, turning his wheelchair to observe others eating, shaking his head, and leaving the dining room before eventually returning to receive his meal at 8:43 AM. Staff interviews revealed that the dietary manager prepared fried egg orders together, resulting in this resident consistently receiving his meal after others at the table had already been served. The executive director confirmed that it was not facility policy to serve residents at the same table at different times and acknowledged that the resident should have been served concurrently with the others. This failure to serve the meal in a timely and dignified manner was found to be inconsistent with the facility's dignity policy.