F0550

D

Undignified Feeding Assistance While CNA Used Personal Cell Phone

Perrysburg, Ohio Survey Completed on 03-26-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to ensure a resident received feeding assistance in a dignified manner consistent with the resident’s rights and facility policy. The resident had diagnoses including Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, anorexia, dysphagia, and dementia with agitation, and a quarterly MDS showed severely impaired cognition with a need for supervision/touching assistance for eating. The care plan documented an ADL self-care performance deficit related to dementia, with interventions indicating the resident required maximum assistance and might need to be fed by staff. On the morning in question, a CNA brought the resident’s breakfast tray into the room and then left to continue passing other trays.

Later that morning, the resident was observed sitting up in bed with the CNA seated next to the bed and the overbed table positioned in front of the CNA. The CNA was wearing an earbud and watching a video on her personal cell phone, which she confirmed was social media, while she was supposed to be assisting with feeding. Although the CNA asked the resident if she wanted eggs and the resident nodded and opened her mouth, the CNA instead fed the resident yogurt, which she acknowledged. During the meal, the resident’s eyes were periodically closed, and the CNA would hold a spoonful of food at the resident’s mouth without notifying her that another bite was being offered. At other times, when the resident opened her mouth in apparent anticipation of food, the CNA was occupied with cleaning and reloading the spoon without verbalizing what was occurring. The Interim DON confirmed staff should not watch their cell phones while providing resident care, and facility policy stated that mealtimes should provide a relaxing, enjoyable environment.