Failure to Provide Palatable and Properly Tempered Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide palatable, attractive, and appropriately tempered food and drink for residents during a lunch meal, as observed and reported by both residents and surveyors. Multiple residents, including those with diabetes, malnutrition, anemia, heart failure, and kidney disease, reported that the food was often cold, bland, and unappetizing. Specific complaints included fried chicken that was too tough and dry to eat, mashed potatoes that were not edible, and vegetables that were overcooked or bland. Residents stated that they frequently had to supplement their meals with food brought in from outside due to dissatisfaction with the facility's offerings. Observations during meal service revealed that food trays delivered to residents' rooms were often lukewarm by the time they arrived, with the last tray being delivered significantly after dining room service had concluded. Surveyors who tested a tray found the fried chicken to be dry and difficult to chew, the broccoli bland and mushy, and the cheese sauce lacking flavor. Residents in the dining room finished eating well before those in their rooms received their meals, and group interviews confirmed that food temperature and palatability were ongoing issues despite previous attempts to address them. Interviews with staff and review of facility records indicated that complaints about food quality, temperature, and timeliness had been ongoing, with residents and staff both acknowledging the problems. The facility had attempted to address these concerns by purchasing warming trays and encouraging residents to request alternative meals, but residents continued to report dissatisfaction. The facility did not have a specific policy on food palatability, relying instead on general standards and recipes provided by an external source.