Failure to Provide Timely Alternative Meals to Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide residents with alternative meals and snacks in accordance with their needs, preferences, and requests. Observations and interviews revealed that residents were required to request alternative meals at least two hours in advance, otherwise they had to wait until the end of meal service or were unable to receive an alternative meal at all. Staff members, including dietary, CNA, and LPN personnel, consistently stated that alternative meals could only be provided if requested well in advance, and some staff indicated that residents were not able to request alternatives at all. One resident reported being unable to get an alternative meal if they did not like what was served, and another stated they had only received a second tray once despite multiple requests. On one occasion, a resident requested a hamburger as an alternative meal, but the cook was unable to provide it because it was not on the product list and the request was not made two hours in advance. The facility's alternative menu listed several options, but staff confirmed that these were not always available unless pre-ordered. These practices placed residents at risk of not receiving nourishing meals, as the facility did not accommodate requests for alternative meals outside of the specified advance notice period.