Insufficient Dietary Staffing Leading to Frequent Use of Styrofoam for Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide sufficient staff in the food and nutrition services department, resulting in frequent use of Styrofoam containers for resident meals instead of regular dishware. Multiple residents reported that meals were sometimes or often served on Styrofoam, including for all three meals in a day. One resident stated that food on Styrofoam gets cold quickly, another reported that hot meals were less hot and that this occurred about once a week, and another resident stated that eating off Styrofoam made her feel sick and that she did not like Styrofoam. These resident interviews indicated an ongoing pattern of Styrofoam use for meal service. The dietary manager reported that beginning on December 19, 2025, and lasting for approximately two weeks, Styrofoam was used at least once a day due to frequent staffing shortages in the department, and that it continued to occur less frequently afterward. Review of the food service staff schedule from November 30, 2025, to February 1, 2026, showed numerous open morning and evening food service worker positions on multiple days, indicating that scheduled staffing levels were not met. These open positions were identified as required to meet the needs of the department. The concerns regarding the use of Styrofoam due to insufficient staffing were reviewed with the Nursing Home Administrator, and the deficiency was cited under 28 Pa. Code 201.14(a) Responsibility of licensee and 28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(3) Management.
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