Outdated Diet Manual and Lack of Standardized Recipes Result in Menu Deficiency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide dietary menus that meet the nutritional needs of residents in accordance with current national guidelines. Record review showed that the diet manual used by the facility was outdated, referencing the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Diet Manual for Long Term Care Residents 2014 Revision, while the most recent national guidelines were revised in 2020. Registered Dietitians confirmed that menus are generated corporately and reviewed using the outdated manual. The Director of Nutrition Services was unaware that the manual was not current and confirmed that the facility did not use standardized recipes. Further review of menus served over a one-week period revealed no evidence of standardized recipes on file. The recipe binder available contained recipes from internet sources without caloric or nutrient information. The Food Service Director confirmed that standardized recipes were not used in meal preparation. As a result, the facility could not provide evidence that their menus met the nutritional needs of residents as required by established national guidelines.