Failure to Treat Resident with Dignity and Respect During Meal Service Incident
Penalty
Summary
A cognitively intact resident with multiple medical diagnoses, including atrial fibrillation, type 2 diabetes, orthostatic hypotension, and a history of falls, experienced issues related to the timeliness and temperature of meal service. The resident expressed frustration that meals were not consistently served at the same time and were often cold. On one occasion, due to the absence of nursing staff in the dining room, the resident began serving trays to others, which led to staff intervention and the resident being told he was not permitted to serve other residents. The resident became upset, raised his voice to get staff attention, and subsequently reported feeling punished by being required to eat in his room for four weeks. The resident's care plan indicated a preference for both social and independent leisure activities, with goals and interventions focused on encouraging participation and honoring his choices. However, following the dining room incident, documentation and interviews revealed that the resident was restricted from eating in the dining room and from participating in certain activities, such as outings, for a period of up to 30 days. Multiple staff members, including a CNA, RN, and the DON, as well as other residents, confirmed the existence of this restriction. The restriction was reportedly announced to other residents, and the resident himself stated he felt treated like a child as a result. Despite the administrator's statement that she was unaware of a formal restriction and believed the resident had chosen to take a break from the dining room, consistent accounts from staff and residents indicated that the resident was not allowed to eat in the dining room or participate in group activities for a set period. The facility's policy requires treating residents with respect and dignity and promoting their rights, but the actions taken in response to the resident's behavior did not align with these requirements, resulting in a failure to treat the resident in a dignified and respectful manner.