Insufficient Dining Room Seating Limits Resident Access to Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient seating in the dining room to accommodate all residents who chose to eat there, resulting in several residents having to wait for extended periods before being able to eat. On multiple occasions, groups of residents were observed sitting in their wheelchairs at the entrance to the dining room or near the nurse's station, waiting for a seat to become available. Staff members, including certified nursing assistants and an LPN/staff educator, confirmed that there were not enough seats for all residents who wished to eat in the dining room at the same time, leading to some residents having to wait until others finished their meals. Residents reported that if they did not arrive early enough, they would have to wait up to an hour before being able to eat, and expressed frustration with the situation. The ombudsman also noted that the lack of dining room seating was a significant concern, as it frequently resulted in residents waiting for a spot to open up. The facility had 83 residents at the time, and the issue was acknowledged by the Director of Nursing, who stated that most residents preferred to eat in the dining room, further exacerbating the seating shortage.