Meal Tray Cards Not Followed
Summary
The facility failed to ensure residents’ food preferences, dislikes, and special food requests listed on tray cards were honored during meal service. Surveyors observed multiple residents receiving items that were specifically marked as dislikes or not receiving items that were listed as required on their tray cards, including missing gravy, yogurt, peanut butter, fortified items, potatoes, and requested soups. The deficient practice affected 19 of 64 residents reviewed for tray cards, including residents who were observed in the dining room and in their rooms during breakfast and lunch meal services. Several residents and a family member reported that the same problems were occurring repeatedly. One resident stated she frequently did not receive what was ordered on her tray card, and another resident reported that the kitchen was not following the tray card instructions and that she regularly received sausage and eggs despite those items being listed as dislikes. A resident council meeting also reflected resident concerns that the kitchen was not honoring food preferences and dislikes, with the council president stating he ordered corn flakes every morning and had never received them as requested. A family member of another resident reported that the resident was vegetarian, disliked eggs, gravy, and meat, and was no longer being offered tomato soup even though it had previously been provided and was needed to soften his grilled cheese sandwich. The Dietary Manager stated that dietary staff were supposed to follow a check-off sheet to ensure all items were on the tray and that residents were not served foods they did not like. She also stated that she saw residents on admission to obtain likes, dislikes, and special requests, and that the Registered Dietitian saw residents after admission, readmission, or when changes occurred. The facility’s policy required meal ID cards to include food and beverage preferences, dislikes, and other applicable information, and stated that the cards were to be used during meal service to assure the correct diet was served and food preferences were honored. Despite this, survey observations documented repeated omissions and incorrect items on meal trays across multiple residents and meal periods.
Penalty
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