Failure to Consistently Honor Resident Food Preferences and Dietary Needs
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to consistently honor resident food preferences and dietary needs for three residents reviewed for nutritional services. One resident reported that the food was "horrible," stating that they did not receive what they requested and that alternates arrived late, causing frustration. Another resident stated that they often received food they did not want or did not order, requiring them to send the tray back and wait for the correct meal, which they also described as frustrating. A third resident reported that the kitchen did not always follow his food preferences and that he continued to receive spinach on his tray despite being unable to have it due to vitamin K content and his medications, leading him to send meals back when they contained items he did not like or could not have. Staff interviews and policy review further described how the facility’s meal-ordering system contributed to these issues. The Nutrition Assistant and Food Director explained that resident food likes/dislikes and preferences are obtained on admission and used to create individualized meal tickets, which are supposed to be updated yearly and used for advance ordering. They acknowledged ongoing problems with floor staff not returning meal tickets to the kitchen or circling items without actually discussing choices with residents, resulting in the kitchen preparing either what was circled or the main meal, regardless of resident preference. The Education Director stated that staff are educated to pick up and complete food order tickets with residents and return them promptly, but confirmed there have been instances when tickets are not returned in time and the kitchen prepares the main meal, requiring a later call for an alternate. Facility policies indicated that food preferences should be obtained within 72 hours of admission and reviewed periodically, and that the food service department is responsible for providing nourishing, palatable diets that meet residents’ nutritional and special dietary needs.
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