Failure to Honor Resident Dining Location Choice
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor a resident's right to choose their dining location, despite the resident's clear and repeated requests. Observations showed the resident consistently seated in the assisted dining room with staff providing eating assistance. The resident, who is cognitively intact with a BIMS score of 15 and requires assistance with eating due to muscular dystrophy, expressed during a resident council meeting and in interviews that he wished to dine in the main dining room to increase socialization. Staff interviews confirmed that the resident's preference was communicated, but the Activities Director informed him he could not eat in the main dining room due to a perceived dignity issue, as directed by the Administrator and corporate staff. The resident stated he was comfortable receiving assistance in front of others. The Director of Nursing later cited safety concerns as the reason for the resident's placement in the assisted dining room, but did not specify any safety issues that could not be managed in the main dining room. The resident's care plan was updated to require all meals in the assisted dining room, but did not address his choice of dining location. Medical records indicated no swallowing or chewing problems, and the resident was on a regular diet. Facility policy requires resident wishes to be respected, but this was not followed in this case.