Failure to Maintain Resident Dignity During Assisted Feeding
Penalty
Summary
A staff member failed to maintain a resident's dignity during mealtime assistance. Specifically, an LPN was observed feeding a resident with severe cognitive impairment and multiple medical diagnoses, including dementia and dysphagia, while standing over the resident in the dining room. The LPN remained standing and fed the resident more than ten spoonfuls of food while the resident was seated in a wheelchair at the dining table. Facility policy and the Director of Nursing both state that staff are required to sit at eye level with residents when feeding them to promote dignity and allow for proper monitoring of swallowing or choking concerns. The resident's care plan and physician orders documented the need for a mechanically altered diet, supervision during meals, and monitoring for signs of dysphagia due to a history of aspiration pneumonia and other health conditions. Facility policies on dignity and resident rights specifically prohibit staff from standing over residents while assisting with eating, emphasizing the importance of maintaining dignity and respect. The observed actions were inconsistent with these policies and the resident's care plan requirements.