Failure to Provide Properly Pureed Diet as Ordered
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide a resident with food prepared in the appropriate puree texture as ordered by the physician. The resident, who had diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and dysphagia, was prescribed a puree diet with thin liquid consistency. Observations during meal service revealed that the puree chicken and vegetables prepared for the resident were lumpy and not of a smooth consistency, as required by both the physician's order and the facility's own policy. Multiple staff members, including the dietary shift leader and dietary director, confirmed that the food was not properly pureed and acknowledged the difficulty in achieving the correct texture, particularly with chicken. Further observation showed the resident spitting out the puree chicken during a meal, and a CNA verified that this was due to the presence of chunks in the food. The facility's policy specified that puree foods should have a smooth, pudding or mashed potato-like consistency, which was not met in this instance. This deficiency had the potential to affect other residents on puree diets, as similar food preparation practices were observed.