Failure to Provide Meal Assistance to Resident Requiring Support
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to provide necessary assistance with meals to a resident identified as requiring encouragement and one-on-one support for eating. Multiple observations showed the resident's meal trays were left covered and out of reach, both while the resident was in bed and seated in a Broda chair. On several occasions, staff members were present but did not offer assistance, encouragement, or alternatives before removing untouched meal trays. Interviews with staff revealed inconsistent understanding of the resident's needs, with some staff stating the resident could feed himself, while others acknowledged he required encouragement and occasional one-on-one help. Staff also cited the resident's comfort care status as a reason for not assisting with meals, despite the care plan indicating interventions such as encouragement to eat and offering substitutes or supplements if intake was low. The resident was noted to have severe weight loss and was being monitored in nutrition at risk meetings. The care plan specifically outlined goals and interventions to address nutritional needs, including ensuring the resident consumed more than 50% of meals and providing alternatives if intake was insufficient. Despite these documented needs and interventions, staff did not consistently implement the care plan, resulting in the resident not receiving necessary care and services related to meal assistance.