Failure to Offer Meal Substitutes for Low Food Intake
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meal substitutes were offered to a resident when food intake was below 50%. Record review showed that the resident, who had diagnoses including gastroenteritis and protein-calorie malnutrition, experienced significant weight fluctuations, including a 7-pound loss in one week. Documentation indicated that on multiple occasions across August and September, the resident consumed less than half of their meals and was not offered alternative menu options as required by facility policy. Interviews with the DON and Food and Nutritional Services Director confirmed that staff should have offered meal substitutes when intake was low, but this did not occur. The facility's policy stated that a variety of foods and snacks should be available and that care plans should be adjusted if a resident is dissatisfied with their diet. Despite these guidelines, the resident was not provided with appropriate alternatives during numerous meals when intake was insufficient.