Failure to Provide Timely 1:1 Feeding Assistance to Dependent Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide necessary one-to-one (1:1) feeding assistance to seven residents who required varying levels of help with eating, as documented in their MDS assessments. These residents had impairments affecting their upper and/or lower extremities and were identified as needing partial, substantial, or total assistance with eating. Observations showed that meal trays were delivered to these residents' bedsides, but they were not set up to eat or fed within the facility's policy timeframe of 15 minutes. In several instances, residents waited more than 15 minutes after meal delivery before receiving assistance, with some residents explicitly stating they were unable to feed themselves and were waiting for help. Staff interviews confirmed that only one CNA was delivering meal trays and was responsible for feeding multiple dependent residents sequentially, resulting in delays. The facility's policy required that residents needing full assistance be fed within 15 minutes of tray delivery and that assistance be provided according to the level of need. Despite this, observations and staff statements indicated that the required timely assistance was not provided, and residents were left waiting with their meal trays at bedside without being fed or set up to eat.