Failure to Honor Resident Meal Preferences and Dietary Needs
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide residents with meal choices and did not honor their dietary preferences, as evidenced by interviews and record reviews involving nine residents. Resident Council meeting notes and a grievance form indicated that residents were not receiving requested meals, and the issue was not addressed by facility leadership. Residents reported that menus were not posted in a timely manner, making it difficult to make meal selections, and that CNAs were no longer assisting residents in filling out their meal orders for the following day. As a result, residents were often served whatever was on the menu without consideration for their preferences. One resident with diabetes, paraplegia, and stage four pressure ulcers reported consistently receiving meals high in carbohydrates and being served scrambled eggs despite a documented preference for fried eggs. The resident's dietary card did not reflect her dislike for scrambled eggs, and her care plan indicated a need for dietary interventions. The facility's food preference policy required that allergies, dislikes, and special requests be addressed prior to meal service, but this was not followed, resulting in residents not receiving meals according to their preferences and needs.