Failure to Provide Bedtime Snacks to Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that residents were provided with suitable and nourishing snacks outside of scheduled meal service times, specifically at bedtime. Record reviews showed that while snack times were scheduled for 9:30 AM, 2:30 PM, and 7:00 PM, there was no provision for bedtime snacks. Interviews with residents and staff confirmed that snacks were not offered at bedtime, and some residents expressed a desire to receive snacks at night. Observations further revealed that no snacks were available in the dining room at the scheduled 7:00 PM snack time, and the kitchen was closed with no staff present. The Administrator and Dietary Manager acknowledged that bedtime snacks were not being prepared or offered, citing reasons such as lack of a nourishment room, concerns about food waste, and budget constraints. Staff interviews indicated that snacks were rarely distributed, and the facility's policy stated that nourishing snacks should be available to residents 24 hours a day. The failure to provide snacks at bedtime was confirmed through multiple sources, including resident interviews, staff statements, and direct observation.