Failure to Accommodate Resident Meal Preferences and Provide Alternatives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide meals that accommodated the individual preferences of two residents. One resident, who is on dialysis and requires extra protein, repeatedly did not receive the requested chocolate milk with meals as indicated on their meal ticket. Observations over multiple meals confirmed that chocolate milk was not provided, nor was any substitution offered. The Food Service Director later confirmed that chocolate milk was unavailable due to financial and vendor issues, and acknowledged that an alternative should have been offered. Another resident consistently received scrambled eggs for breakfast despite expressing a dislike for them to the Food Service Director. Observations showed that the resident refused to eat the eggs and was not offered an alternative meal. The resident's food preference assessment did not list scrambled eggs as a dislike, but the Food Service Director confirmed being informed of the resident's preference. Facility policy requires that alternative food be offered if a resident refuses a meal or desires something else, but this was not followed in these cases.