Failure to Honor Resident Breakfast Preferences and Alternatives
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident’s dignity and right to self-determination by not ensuring meaningful breakfast alternatives consistent with resident preferences were available and communicated. One resident (R2), on a general regular diet, reported that the dietary department would not allow residents to have pancakes as an alternative to waffles and would not provide an extra meat item in place of waffles, stating that the only alternative offered was white or wheat toast. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed that the breakfast alternative did not include pancakes and that the only alternative for waffles was white or wheat toast, with no meat alternative offered. This practice occurred despite the facility’s Food Preference Policy stating that if a resident refuses the food being served, the facility should offer alternatives consistent with the usual food items provided by the facility, and despite the Resident’s Rights policy requiring services that support residents’ physical and mental health and sense of satisfaction. The Executive Director and DON later stated that residents could have pancakes as an alternative and that all residents had the choice of a liberal diet and could ask for pancakes even if not listed on the alternative menu, indicating a discrepancy between facility leadership’s expectations and the actual options and information provided to residents by dietary staff.
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