Failure to Provide Bedtime Snacks and Ensure Snack Availability
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that bedtime snacks were consistently offered to residents, as required by their needs and preferences. Multiple residents reported during interviews and a Resident Council meeting that snacks were not available in the evenings, with one resident specifically stating that requests for snacks around 10:00 PM were denied due to an empty refrigerator. Another resident noted that while the dietary manager typically prepared snacks, these were unavailable during the manager's absence, and common snack items such as applesauce, peaches, and mixed fruit were not provided in the evenings. Staff interviews confirmed that snacks sometimes ran out and that nursing staff did not have access to the kitchen at night, which was a concern especially for diabetic residents who might require snacks outside of scheduled meal times. The Director of Nursing acknowledged that refrigerators were intended to be stocked for nighttime use but confirmed that access and availability remained an issue.