Insufficient Dietary Staffing Leads to Use of Disposable Mealware and Menu Issues
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient support personnel to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the food and nutrition service in the main kitchen and on two of four nursing units. Observations and interviews revealed that residents were often served meals using plastic utensils and foam containers, particularly on weekends, due to inadequate staffing levels. A resident reported dissatisfaction with the use of these materials, especially when trying to cut food, and this issue was confirmed to occur frequently. Additionally, concerns were documented in the resident council meeting summary regarding mismatches between tray tickets and actual meal items, as well as delays in updating and distributing seasonal menus. The Food Services Director confirmed that paper products were used for serving meals whenever there was not enough staff to operate the dish machine and complete other necessary duties. A review of the food service staff schedule over a two-week period showed multiple open positions for both morning and evening shifts, indicating ongoing staffing shortages. These issues were discussed with the Nursing Home Administrator, and the deficiency was cited under federal and state regulations for failing to provide sufficient dietary support personnel.