Resident Food Choice Not Honored by Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident's right to self-determination and choice regarding food selection was not honored. The resident, who had diagnoses including encephalopathy, hemiplegia, and dysphagia, and required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, requested chocolate milk during dining service. Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) 2 refused the request, stating that the chocolate milk would upset the resident's stomach and that they did not have time to address the resulting incontinence. This interaction was witnessed by an LPN and corroborated by the resident, who recalled being denied the chocolate milk by CNA 2. The facility's policy on Preferences for Daily Routine requires that resident preferences be identified and incorporated into the plan of care, with information shared among the interdisciplinary team. Despite this policy, CNA 2 did not honor the resident's preference for chocolate milk, instead making a decision based on perceived inconvenience and the resident's incontinence. The incident was reported to the Indiana Department of Health and documented in the facility's investigation file.