Resident Burned After Being Left Unattended with Hot Food in Dining Room
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with impaired cognition, Parkinson's disease, peripheral nervous system disorders, and diabetes, who required staff assistance for all activities of daily living including feeding, was left unattended in the dining room with a plate of hot food. The resident attempted to feed themselves with their hands and sustained burns, resulting in fluid-filled blisters on multiple fingers of the right hand. The resident's care plan indicated a need for supervision and assistance during meals due to tremors and difficulty expressing needs. On the morning of the incident, the resident's spouse, who usually assisted with feeding, was not present. Staff were still bringing residents into the dining room while the resident's meal tray was already placed in front of them. No staff were present to assist or supervise the resident at the time, and the dietary host observed the resident with food on their hands and no one feeding them. Another resident at the table witnessed the incident, confirming that the resident picked up hot food with their fingers without staff assistance. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that the resident required nursing assistance and encouragement during meals, and that food was typically not served hot enough to cause burns, with staff usually stirring food before assisting. However, on this occasion, the resident was left alone with hot food, leading to the injury. The incident was immediately reported, and the resident was assessed and treated for burns by nursing staff.