Resident Referred to as 'Feeder' in Assisted Dining Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with severe cognitive impairment, requiring assistance with activities of daily living including eating, was referred to as a "feeder" by an LVN in the assisted dining room. The resident had diagnoses of altered mental status, dysphagia, and unspecified dementia, and their care plan emphasized the importance of promoting dignity, conversing with the resident, and ensuring privacy during care. The facility's policy also required staff to treat residents with dignity and respect, specifically prohibiting labeling residents by their care needs. During an observation, the LVN was seen verifying diets and referred to the residents at the assisted dining table as "feeders." In a subsequent interview, the LVN acknowledged using a poor choice of words and stated that "assisted dining table" should have been used instead. The DON confirmed that referring to residents as "feeders" was unacceptable and not in line with facility expectations or policy.