Care Plan Failed to Reflect Resident's Actual Eating Assistance Needs
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to ensure that a resident's care plan accurately reflected the level and type of assistance needed for eating. Observations during two consecutive noontime meals showed the resident feeding himself with his fingers, dropping food on his clothes, and leaving food scattered around his dining area. No staff were observed prompting the resident to use utensils during these meals. Interviews with nurse aides and the speech therapist confirmed that the resident is capable of using utensils but requires constant supervision and cueing to do so effectively. The current care plan only indicated that the resident required set-up assistance with eating, without specifying the need for ongoing supervision and cueing. This discrepancy between the care plan and the resident's actual needs was confirmed by the Director of Nursing.