Failure to Routinely Provide Substantial Evening Snacks
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide substantial evening snacks to residents, as required by their policy and regulatory standards. Multiple alert and oriented residents reported that staff did not routinely offer them snacks after dinner or before bedtime, and that they were not asked if they would like a substantial snack such as a half sandwich or yogurt. Some residents stated that while they could request a snack earlier in the day, staff did not proactively offer snacks in the evening. Staff interviews confirmed that the availability and quantity of evening snacks depended on what the kitchen left before closing, with the kitchen being locked after staff left. Commonly available snacks included oatmeal cream pies, chips, graham crackers, and occasionally yogurt or sandwiches, but there were not always enough snacks for all residents, and substantial snacks were rarely provided. The facility's policy required that evening snacks be routinely offered to all residents and that nourishing snacks from the basic food groups be provided if the time between dinner and breakfast exceeded fourteen hours. However, staff interviews revealed inconsistency in snack provision, with some staff stating that there were sometimes not enough snacks for all residents and that the type of snack varied based on kitchen supply. The lack of routine offering and insufficient quantity and quality of snacks had the potential to affect all 37 residents residing in the facility.