Failure to Implement Person-Centered Care Plan for Feeding Assistance
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to develop and implement a comprehensive, person-centered care plan with measurable objectives and timeframes to meet the needs of a resident who required assistance with eating. The resident, an older adult male admitted with fractures to the nasal bone and spine, had an initial care plan indicating a need for one staff member's assistance during meals. However, on one occasion, the resident's dinner tray was left untouched, and he did not receive the required assistance with eating as outlined in his care plan. Interviews revealed that the CNA responsible for the resident's care delivered the meal tray but did not provide feeding assistance, believing the resident could feed himself and not checking the care plan or Kardex for specific instructions. The DON confirmed that the care plan is intended to guide staff in providing appropriate care and that not following it could result in harm. The facility's policy requires a comprehensive care plan for each resident, but in this instance, the intervention for feeding assistance was not implemented.