Failure to Safeguard Resident's Personal Food Due to Inconsistent Policy Implementation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the safety and availability of a resident's personal property, specifically food brought in by family members. A long-term resident reported difficulty chewing facility-provided food, leading their family to bring in outside food. The family later discovered that the food they had brought was missing from the unit's refreshment refrigerator. Review of the facility's 'Food from Home Policy' indicated that all food items brought in by families must be labeled with content and date, and are to be discarded if not consumed within three days. Interviews with staff revealed inconsistencies in the application of this policy. The kitchen staff reported discarding any items without an expiration date, while nursing staff stated that only the date the food was placed in the refrigerator was required, not an expiration date. This discrepancy led to the removal of food items that may have been within the allowed timeframe, resulting in the resident's food being discarded and unavailable. The concern regarding inconsistent policy implementation was discussed with facility leadership, but no further information was provided before the survey concluded.