Insufficient Dietary Staffing Leads to Delayed and Unpalatable Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain sufficient staffing in the dietary department, resulting in delayed meal service and meals not served at palatable temperatures for residents on the East unit. Multiple residents reported that meals were often late by thirty minutes to over an hour and were served cold and unpalatable. One resident's visitor expressed concern for timely nutritional intake due to the resident's insulin use, noting that delays in meal service could impact blood sugar management. Nursing staff also reported that meal carts were consistently delivered late to the units. Observation of the lunch tray pass confirmed that the meal cart arrived fifty-three minutes past the scheduled time, and test tray temperatures for hot foods were below expected levels, resulting in lukewarm and bland meals. A review of the dietary department's staffing schedule revealed that two dietary aides were not replaced during their scheduled shifts, and the dietary manager was covering as the PM cook. The facility census was 168 residents at the time, and the administrator acknowledged ongoing staffing shortages in the dietary department.