Failure to Provide Palatable, Appealing, and Properly Served Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink were palatable, visually appealing, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature, as evidenced by observations, staff and resident interviews, and record reviews. Multiple residents reported that meals were bland, cold, and not served according to their individual preferences. Food was described as lacking seasoning, being overcooked or undercooked, and visually unappealing, with no garnishes or condiments provided. The care plans reviewed did not document residents' dietary preferences, dislikes, or specific modifications, and there were no interventions listed to support resident satisfaction with meals. The dietary manager acknowledged that resident food preferences were not routinely gathered, except during infrequent walk-throughs and committee meetings, and relied on CNAs to relay concerns. Environmental observations in the kitchen revealed poor sanitation, broken equipment, inadequate refrigeration, and lack of ventilation or air conditioning, further compromising food quality and safety. Despite resident complaints about food quality, the facility failed to provide requested test trays for surveyors to assess food temperature, appearance, and taste. The dietary manager admitted to not following up on the delivery of test trays, and the survey team was not notified when trays were placed on the meal cart, resulting in the trays not being received. Staff interviews confirmed the oversight, and the facility administrator acknowledged the breakdown in communication. These failures were observed for all five residents reviewed for food satisfaction, with a facility census of 87.