Failure to Provide Timely and Adequate Meal Service Due to Kitchen Shutdown
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide meals at regular and scheduled times due to a sewage backup in the kitchen, which resulted in the County Health Department shutting down the kitchen and requiring all prepared food to be discarded. As a result, staff had to arrange for outside food, leading to significant delays in meal service. Lunch was not delivered until late in the afternoon, with residents receiving hoagies from a local fast food place around 3:45 p.m. or later. Breakfast was also delayed, with some residents still waiting for their morning meal well past the scheduled time. Observations confirmed that food deliveries were late, and meals were not served within the facility's established meal schedule. Multiple residents reported waiting extended periods for meals, with some receiving inadequate or incomplete food, such as cold cereal without milk or juice. One resident, who is diabetic, was at risk due to the delay in receiving meals, and her roommate had to obtain a sandwich from a nurse to prevent low blood sugar. Staff interviews corroborated the delays and confirmed that meals were being prepared offsite and transported to the facility, further contributing to the late service. Documentation review showed that the facility did not serve meals within the scheduled times on the days in question.