Failure to Provide Consistent Assistance with Eating for Dependent Resident
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident with significant medical conditions, including legal blindness, cerebral infarction, tremor, hemiplegia, and dysphagia, did not receive the necessary assistance with eating as outlined in his care plan. The care plan specified that the resident required setup and cleanup assistance from staff during meals due to his deficits in activities of daily living. However, observation revealed that a CNA delivered the resident's breakfast tray and left the room without providing the required assistance. Interviews with facility staff indicated inconsistency in the level of support provided to the resident during meals. The lead staff member was unsure about the resident's ability to feed himself, while the dietary manager and CNAs described varying degrees of assistance, ranging from total assistance to supervision, depending on the resident's condition and mood. One CNA reported having to assist the resident with eating over the past weeks due to the resident not eating his meals independently. These findings demonstrate that the facility did not consistently provide the necessary services to maintain or improve the resident's ability to carry out activities of daily living, specifically eating.