Failure to Provide Palatable Food and Beverages at Appropriate Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food and beverages that were palatable and served at appropriate temperatures for residents on the Evergreen unit. Two residents reported that their coffee and food were sometimes cold, with one resident specifically stating the coffee was cold when eating in the dining room. During observation of lunch meal service, staff were seen serving meals from a steam table and distributing beverages from a cart. As meal service concluded, staff assembled trays for room delivery, placing uncovered beverages and food items on trays, some of which were served in disposable foam containers without lids. Staff were observed struggling with a depleted coffee supply, resulting in only half-filled cups, and acknowledged a lack of sufficient plate covers, silverware, and beverage lids in the dining room. When a resident's tray was delivered, it contained lukewarm food and beverages, with temperatures measured below acceptable standards for palatability: beef stroganoff at 104°F, carrots at 103.5°F, coffee at 99.1°F, tomato soup at 104.8°F, and milk at 53.7°F. The food service manager confirmed that there should have been an adequate supply of silverware, food, beverages, and lids, and acknowledged that the temperatures recorded were not within acceptable ranges. These findings were reviewed with the Nursing Home Administrator.