Failure to Consistently Document Meal Intake for Residents at Nutritional Risk
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s failure to ensure meal intakes were consistently documented for residents identified as being at nutritional risk, which was necessary to maintain residents’ health and monitor nutritional status. For one resident with Huntington’s disease, dysphagia, abnormal weight loss, bipolar disorder, and adult failure to thrive, the care plan identified risks for altered nutrition, dehydration, and significant weight loss, with interventions that included monitoring and documenting meal percentages at each meal. Record review showed multiple missing meal intake entries across January, February, and March 2026 for this resident, including undocumented breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on numerous specific dates, despite the care plan requirement to document each meal. A second resident, admitted with Alzheimer’s disease, protein calorie malnutrition, major depressive disorder, and chronic kidney disease, was care planned as being at risk for malnutrition, altered fluid maintenance/dehydration, and significant weight loss, with interventions to monitor and document meal percentages for each meal. Review of this resident’s records revealed missing documentation of meal percentages for several breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in January, February, and March 2026. These gaps occurred even though the resident required substantial/maximal assistance with eating and was dependent on staff for several ADLs, and despite the care plan directive to document each meal consumed. A third resident with non-traumatic subdural hemorrhage, visual hallucinations, Down syndrome, chronic pain syndrome, and left foot drop was also care planned as being at risk for malnutrition, altered fluid maintenance/dehydration, and significant weight loss, with interventions to monitor and document meal percentages at each meal due to consuming less than 75% of meals and needing assistance with meals. Record review showed numerous missing meal percentage entries for this resident’s breakfasts, lunches, and dinners across January, February, and March 2026. CNA #122 stated that meal intakes are recorded after meals and that she does not leave her shift until documentation is complete, while the DON stated that aides are expected to chart daily, including meal percentages, and confirmed that meal percentages are used to monitor residents’ nutritional status. Facility policy on nutrition documentation required that nutrition documentation be completed on all residents in accordance with regulations and standards of practice.
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