Failure to Provide Palatable and Properly Tempered Food and Drink
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to provide food and drink that was palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature for all 12 residents reviewed for food service. Multiple residents, all of whom were alert and oriented or cognitively intact, reported receiving cold, burnt, or unappetizing food on several occasions. Specific examples included cold coffee and French fries, burnt sausage, hard and dry toast, and oatmeal that was cold and congealed. Family members and staff corroborated these complaints, noting repeated issues with food being served cold or burnt, and a lack of condiments such as butter or jelly on trays. Direct observations by surveyors confirmed these reports. Food temperatures were measured using a calibrated thermometer, revealing that hot foods such as coffee, French fries, eggs, and oatmeal were served well below the facility's preferred minimum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit for palatability. For example, coffee was measured at 93°F and French fries at 89°F. Toast was frequently observed to be hard, burnt, and difficult to eat, and some trays lacked necessary accompaniments. Residents often refused to eat the food due to its poor quality and temperature, and some expressed frustration about the lack of timely alternatives when food was sent back. Staff interviews indicated ongoing challenges in the kitchen, including insufficient supplies and staffing, particularly during evenings and weekends. CNAs and the Dietary Manager acknowledged that residents had complained about the quality and temperature of food, and that the kitchen had struggled to deliver meals that met expectations. The facility's own policy requires periodic checks of food temperatures at the point of service, with a preference for hot foods to be at least 120°F, but this standard was not consistently met during the survey period.