Failure to Accommodate Resident Food Preferences and Dietary Orders
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents received food that accommodated their allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as required by policy. For one resident, the care plan indicated that food preferences should be assessed and updated, but the nutritional assessment lacked specific preferences. During a lunch observation, the resident received only one serving of vegetables despite a meal card indicating two choices, and the resident reported receiving foods contraindicated for her dialysis, such as potatoes and bananas. The CNA delivering the tray was unable to identify or explain the absence of the second vegetable. Additional observations revealed that another resident did not receive their preferred almond milk, while a third resident was missing both a can of lemon lime soda and chocolate milk. Furthermore, a resident who was not supposed to have straws was observed with a straw in their drink, and another resident on a ground diet received a dessert that was not ground. The administrator confirmed that physician diet orders were to be followed and that resident preferences should be accommodated within those orders.