Failure to Honor Resident Food Preferences and Choices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor and facilitate resident preferences for food, specifically by not allowing residents to have food items from outside sources heated up, despite previous practices and resident requests. This change affected at least four residents, all of whom had intact cognition and specific dietary needs or preferences, such as altered taste due to stroke, diabetes, malnutrition, and personal snack choices. The facility's policy previously allowed for the safe heating of outside food using food thermometers and staff education, but this was discontinued. Residents and their families reported that the facility stopped heating up food items, including frozen meals and microwave popcorn, citing state regulations, staff workload, and concerns about food safety and potential burns. Residents expressed dissatisfaction, noting that the inability to heat up their preferred foods negatively impacted their meal enjoyment and choice. Staff interviews confirmed that management had directed them to stop heating food for residents, and staff expressed difficulty in denying these requests, acknowledging the impact on residents' quality of life. Administrative staff explained that the policy change was implemented due to an increase in outside food being brought in, lack of storage space, and concerns about staff capacity to safely heat food according to guidelines. The facility communicated this change to residents and families through a letter, stating that only small amounts of perishable food could be stored and that no food requiring heating would be accommodated. This resulted in residents losing the ability to choose their preferred meals and snacks, contrary to facility policy and resident rights.