Menus Lacked Portion Sizes and Diet Differentiation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that menus met the nutritional needs of residents in accordance with established national guidelines. Observations revealed that the menu did not specify portion sizes or differentiate between diet types such as No Added Salt (NAS) or No Concentrated Sweets (NCS). Dietary staff confirmed that there were no written instructions on the menu regarding portion sizes or specific dietary modifications for different resident needs. Instead, staff relied on their own knowledge of which scoops to use for serving, and meal cards did not contain portion sizes or indicate changes between diets. During meal service, pureed meals were divided evenly among residents without the use of standardized scoops, and any leftover food was given to a resident known to eat more, further indicating a lack of standardized portion control. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and the recently hired Registered Dietitian confirmed that the facility used a single menu for all residents, which lacked delineation between different diet types and did not specify portion sizes. The dietitian acknowledged that menus should be standardized for all diets and that the current system did not meet this requirement. The absence of an extended menu that clearly outlined differences between diet types and portion sizes had the potential to affect all 23 residents in the facility.