Failure to Honor Resident Food Preferences During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to honor the documented food preferences of two residents during a lunch meal service. One resident, who had a documented dislike of pork on his meal ticket, was observed eating a substitute burrito after being served a main entrée containing pork. The resident stated he disliked pork and frequently received it despite his preference being noted. Review of his record showed he was cognitively intact and had diagnoses including end-stage renal disease and diabetes. An LVN confirmed that pork should not have been served, and the kitchen staff should have followed the diet slip instructions. Another resident, also with a documented dislike of pork and a history of dysphagia, was observed eating a meal that included chopped pork. The resident consumed only a few bites of the pork and stated a dislike for it. Both residents' meal tickets clearly indicated their dislike for pork, and the facility's policy required adherence to food preferences and provision of alternate menu items as dictated by resident dislikes. The Registered Dietician confirmed that residents' preferences and dislikes are to be printed on meal tickets to guide dietary staff, and that the residents should not have been served pork.