Failure to Provide Proper Pureed Diet Consistency
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when the facility failed to provide a breakfast meal in a smooth pureed consistency as required for a resident with a downgraded diet due to swallowing difficulties. The resident, who had diagnoses of dementia and an unspecified muscle disorder, was assessed as needing a pureed diet for safety and nutritional intake. During observation, the resident was served scrambled eggs and oatmeal that contained clumps, requiring the resident to chew the food. The resident confirmed needing to chew the eggs, and staff acknowledged the presence of clumps in both the eggs and oatmeal. The dietary staff member responsible for preparing and serving the meal admitted to blending the eggs but noted they became clumpy on the steam table and should not have been served in that condition. The staff also stated that oatmeal was not pureed because the resident would not eat it if it was. The registered dietician confirmed that pureed foods should be silky smooth with no clumps and that residents should not have to chew pureed foods. The facility's policy requires pureed foods to have a semi-liquid to semi-solid, pudding-like consistency, with adjustments made as needed to achieve the correct texture.