Failure to Provide Palatable and Appropriately Tempered Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink provided to residents were palatable, attractive, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature, as required by facility policy. Multiple residents reported dissatisfaction with the quality and temperature of the food, describing meals as often lukewarm, vegetables as undercooked and hard, and meats as overdone. Some residents stated they refused facility meals and instead ordered takeout due to poor food quality and temperature. A test tray sampled during the survey revealed that while some items were at acceptable temperatures, others, such as steak fries and coffee, were served cold or lukewarm, and the soup was only 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The Assistant Food Service Director acknowledged complaints about cold food and noted that while insulated food carts were used for units farther from the kitchen, open racks were still used for closer units, and there was no plan to transition all units to enclosed thermal carts. Staff interviews confirmed ongoing complaints about food temperature and quality, with dietary staff making efforts to address individual preferences but not resolving the underlying issue. The Assistant Food Service Director indicated that the pellet system used to keep food warm was being serviced, but there was no evidence of a comprehensive solution in place. Residents and their representatives reported that complaints about cold meals had been made to staff without resolution, and some residents regularly sought alternative food sources due to dissatisfaction with the meals provided.