F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
D

Uneven Meal Service in Dining Room

Family Of Caring At Teaneck LlcTeaneck, New Jersey Survey Completed on 12-02-2025

Summary

The facility failed to ensure that meals were consistently provided in a dignified and homelike manner for 2 residents seated at table #9 in the recreation dining area. During lunch meal service, one resident was independently eating after being served a tray, while the other resident, who was seated across from that resident, had not been served a tray. Staff present in the dining room included the Director of Activities and CNAs who were distributing trays and assisting residents with eating. After the surveyor asked about the situation, the DA stated it was not common practice for a resident not to have a tray while others at the same table were eating and said the resident normally took meals in their room; the DA then asked a CNA to retrieve the resident’s meal tray from a cart in the hallway. Review of the records showed that the resident who was not served at the table had diagnoses including dementia and depression, with a care plan identifying risk for malnutrition or unplanned weight loss and a dietician note stating the resident reported a fair appetite. The other resident had diagnoses including essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes. The facility’s Food, Dining Service and HS Snacks policy stated that all residents seated at a table will be served together, and the Resident Rights policy stated that residents are to be treated with respect, kindness, and dignity. During interviews, the DON stated that serving one resident at a table while another was not served was not common practice and that staff should accommodate the resident’s choice daily, not just what they thought the resident wanted.

Penalty

No penalty information released
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The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.

Resources

Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:

See other F0550 citations
Failure to Preserve Resident Dignity During Shower Transfer
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with hemiplegia, hemiparesis, and vascular dementia was transferred in a mechanical lift from her room into a hallway to a reclining shower bed while only partially covered with a bath sheet, leaving her hips and buttocks exposed to others in the area. The resident said she did not like being left exposed, and staff stated the bed was usually placed outside her room because of space limits, though the DON expected her dignity to be preserved during the transfer.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Provide Dignified Dining Assistance
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A facility failed to provide a dignified dining experience for two residents who needed feeding assistance. One resident was left waiting while another resident at the same table was assisted and a third fed himself, and another resident received a tray but was not helped until staff finished assisting someone else at a different table. A nurse aide stated there were only two staff in the room and four residents who needed feeds.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Cell Phone Use During Resident Care
E
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

Cell Phone Use During Resident Care: CNAs were observed by 11 confidential residents using personal cell phones while providing showers, peri-care, and other hands-on care, as well as while walking in halls, at the nurses’ station, and in the dining area. Residents said the phone use made them feel ignored, embarrassed, and that their privacy was violated. The DON and ADM stated staff should give residents full attention and not use cell phones in patient care areas, and the facility policy required residents be treated with kindness, respect, dignity, and confidentiality.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Failure to Knock Before Entering Residents’ Room
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A PTA entered two residents’ shared room without knocking or announcing herself first. One resident had arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, tracheostomy dependence, and respirator dependence, and both residents had severely impaired cognitive skills and were dependent on staff for multiple ADLs. The PTA stated she should have knocked and introduced herself, and the DON said staff should knock and announce themselves before entering to respect residents’ dignity and rights.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Missed Off-Campus Appointment Due to Poor Transportation Coordination
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with quadriplegia and spinal stenosis missed a standing off-campus PT appointment after transport was not properly coordinated. A CNA escorted him to the pickup area, where Driver 1 said no driver was available and sent him back to his room, while Driver 2 later documented the trip as canceled without notifying the unit that she was available. RN staff did not verify transportation, and the resident became upset and reported feeling neglected and that his care was less important than other residents’ care.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
Uncovered nephrostomy bag visible from hallway
D
F0550 F550: Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Short Summary

A resident with moderate cognitive impairment, MS, neurogenic bladder, an indwelling catheter, and a left nephrostomy tube had his nephrostomy drainage bag left uncovered and visible from the hallway while seated in a Broda chair with his room door open. The care plan directed staff to ensure he was appropriately covered and dignity was provided, and the RNCM and DON confirmed the uncovered bag was a dignity concern.

No penalty information released
tooltip icon
The penalty, as released by CMS, applies to the entire inspection this citation is part of, covering all citations and f-tags issued, not just this specific f-tag. For the complete original report, please refer to the 'Details' section.
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