Failure to Follow IDDSI-Consistent Modified Diet Orders and Staff Incompetence With Texture Restrictions
Summary
The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide prescribed modified-texture diets in accordance with physician orders, the diet manual, and IDDSI guidelines, and failure to ensure staff competency with IDDSI diets for two residents with dysphagia. Resident #1 had dementia, oropharyngeal dysphagia, cerebrovascular disease, and type II diabetes, with a physician’s order for a regular diet with IDDSI 6 soft and bite-sized texture and thin liquids, use of adaptive equipment, and supervision with meals. Despite these orders and a care plan identifying potential swallowing problems and the need for supervision and adherence to the prescribed diet, Resident #1 was routinely provided peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were crustless and halved, not cut into 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm pieces as required for IDDSI 6, and peanut butter was not permitted on that texture level per IDDSI guidance. Staff, including nursing and dietary, reported that Resident #1 “always” received peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with meals and as snacks, and there was no SLP evaluation or physician order authorizing an exception for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. On the day of the choking incident, Resident #1 was in the dining room eating lunch when a choking episode occurred, requiring an LPN to perform the Heimlich maneuver, which dislodged a piece of food and the resident’s dentures. The SLP present in the dining room for another resident heard banging, turned to see Resident #1 red in the face and apparently not breathing, and alerted the LPN, who then intervened. The SLP later stated that the choking incident could have been prevented if the resident’s diet orders had been followed and confirmed that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are not included in a level 6 diet unless specifically evaluated and ordered as an exception, with the sandwich cut into 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm pieces. Multiple NAs and an LPN reported they were unaware that peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were not permitted on a level 6 diet, did not know where IDDSI guidance was posted, and believed the resident could have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The Food Service Director confirmed that Resident #1’s meal tickets included a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at each meal without any supporting diet order slip and that sandwiches for residents on modified diets were only made crustless and cut in half, not into IDDSI-compliant bite-sized pieces. Resident #2 had oropharyngeal dysphagia and a history of cerebral infarction, with an initial physician’s order for a regular diet with IDDSI 6 soft and bite-sized texture and honey-thick liquids, and permission for soft crustless sandwiches including peanut butter and jelly, with supervision at meals. A subsequent SLP screen identified overt signs of aspiration and led to a change in diet to IDDSI 5 minced and moist texture with honey-thick liquids. The SLP’s discharge summary recommended continuing IDDSI 5 minced and moist and honey-thick liquids and did not document that the resident was safe to consume peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or that any exception was approved. Nonetheless, nursing entered physician orders on two later dates allowing crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with every meal, and these orders remained in effect. The clinical record from the SLP discharge forward did not show any SLP evaluation approving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for this resident. Observations in the dining room showed Resident #2 being served crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with meals, first halved and later quartered, while on an IDDSI 5 minced and moist diet, despite IDDSI guidance that this level excludes regular dry bread and sticky foods such as nut butters and requires food to be soft, moist, and minced into 4 mm pieces. NAs confirmed that the resident always received a crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwich with meals. The SLP later clarified that although she had trialed crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches during therapy, the resident was not safe to consume them without one-to-one SLP observation and that her written diet slip at discharge did not authorize peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The APRN acknowledged signing the peanut butter and jelly sandwich orders in bulk, assuming SLP approval, and the DON stated she did not know why nursing entered those orders when they were not recommended by the SLP. Facility policies required that residents receive foods in the consistency ordered by the physician and/or speech therapy, that diet textures follow the diet manual and be transcribed correctly to diet cards, that texture needs be guided by the speech therapist or dietician, and that food on the tray match the dietary card, but these requirements were not followed for the two residents. Overall, the deficiency centers on the facility’s failure to follow physician and SLP diet orders and IDDSI standards for modified textures, specifically by providing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that were not permitted or properly prepared for residents on IDDSI 5 and 6 diets, and on staff’s lack of knowledge and competency regarding IDDSI diet restrictions and preparation. This resulted in residents with dysphagia receiving food items and textures inconsistent with their ordered diets and the facility’s own policies.
Penalty
Resources
Below are regulatory guidelines relevant to this citation:
A resident with dementia, dysphagia, and muscle weakness had a physician order for a chopped texture diet, but was served unchopped quiche and matzoh balls during a meal. The family member reported this happened often and said they had to chop the resident's food themselves, while the DON and DFD confirmed the resident should have received the correct texture and that some items were not chopped before being sent to the unit.
Failure to Follow Ordered Texture Diet: A resident with dysphagia and an ordered puree/liquified diet received sponge cake instead of the prescribed texture. The resident later developed N/V, SOB, and possible aspiration after eating non-pureed food, requiring ED evaluation via 911. The DM confirmed the wrong texture was served, and the DON/ADON acknowledged that diet orders were not followed.
A resident with a dysphagia puree diet order was served a regular consistency roll at lunch. An NA buttered the roll and gave it to the resident in the dining room until a surveyor intervened and had it removed; the NA acknowledged the resident should not have received it.
Incorrect Diet Texture Served to a Resident with Dysphagia: A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dysphagia, and malnutrition was ordered a mechanical soft diet with thin liquids, but staff served meals with incorrect textures, including whole asparagus, thick-cut bacon, and a whole hard-boiled egg. The NA said she was new and did not know the resident’s diet needs, while dietary staff said the meal tickets and food preparation were inconsistent and that some items were not prepared to the ordered texture.
A resident with severe cognitive impairment, dementia, and malnutrition did not receive diet care consistent with the ARNP’s orders. Staff failed to transcribe updated orders for honey-thick liquids and specific feeding instructions into the EMR/Kardex, the resident continued receiving a nectar-thick supplement, and staff were observed feeding and assisting the resident from the wrong side instead of the ordered right side.
Failure to Serve Ground Meatloaf for Mechanical Soft Diets: The facility did not serve ground meatloaf as listed on the menu extension sheet for residents on mechanical soft diets. During tray line service, a dietary staff member stated there was no ground meatloaf because she had been told the meatloaf was mechanical soft friendly. The DM and RD agreed with that interpretation, while the ST stated mechanical soft meats are typically ground and that the affected residents should have received ground meatloaf.
Resident on chopped diet received unchopped meal items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with a physician-ordered chopped texture diet received food prepared in the correct form. The resident had diagnoses including dementia, dysphagia, and muscle weakness, and care plan interventions called for diet and food consistency per physician order, along with assistance and monitoring during meals. The physician order required no concentrated sweets, chopped texture, and thin liquids, and a speech language pathologist note documented that the resident continued to tolerate a chopped diet with thin liquids. On the dinner meal in question, the resident was served a slice of quiche and matzoh balls in soup that were not chopped, despite the chopped diet order. The resident's family member stated they often had to chop the resident's food themselves and reported that the unchopped meal was shown to an LPN. The Director of Food Services confirmed the resident was on a chopped texture diet and received unchopped quiche and matzoh balls, and stated these items were not chopped before delivery to the unit because kitchen staff did not chop certain foods to preserve their structure and presentation. The DON stated nursing staff must ensure residents on mechanically altered diets received the appropriate textured food, and the LPN stated they would chop food upon request but could not recall whether they assisted with this meal.
Failure to Follow Ordered Texture Diet
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a resident with dysphagia received food prepared in the ordered texture. Resident 1 was admitted with multiple diagnoses, including dysphagia, and the MDS indicated difficulty swallowing and a mechanically altered diet. The resident’s OSR listed a liquified texture diet, and the care plan directed staff to follow the diet/MD order. Despite these orders, the resident received sponge cake, which was not the prescribed puree-type texture. The physician progress note documented that the resident had been sent to the ED via 911 after nausea, vomiting, and possible aspiration following ingestion of non-pureed food. The note stated the resident developed nausea/vomiting and shortness of breath after consuming pound cake with raisins despite being on a strict pureed diet due to dysphagia, and was noted to have spitting up mucus and vomiting, raising concern for aspiration. The Dietary Manager confirmed the resident received a different texture than ordered, and the ADON acknowledged that all diet orders were expected to be followed and confirmed the resident’s prescribed diet was not followed.
Inappropriate Food Texture Served to Resident on Puree Diet
Penalty
Summary
Food was not provided in a form designed to meet an individual resident’s needs when Resident #111, who had an order for a regular diet with dysphagia puree texture and thin liquids, was served a regular consistency roll at lunch. The resident’s diet order also included fortified cereal at breakfast, fortified soup at lunch and dinner, and a two-handled cup with lid for meals. During a dining room observation, Nurse Aide #64 served the resident’s lunch tray and buttered a regular roll for the resident. Before the resident ate it, the State surveyor intervened and had the nurse aide remove the roll. Nurse Aide #64 confirmed the resident was on a puree diet and should not have received a regular roll, stating, “Yeah, you’re right,” and that she did not think it looked right.
Incorrect Diet Texture Served to Resident with Dysphagia
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that a severely cognitively impaired resident with dysphagia received the ordered mechanical soft diet texture. The resident had diagnoses including oropharyngeal phase dysphagia and moderate protein-calorie malnutrition, and the record showed she was edentulous with dentures not available during a prior hospital SLP evaluation. The SLP documented oral holding and prolonged oral transit with puree solids and thin liquids, and later recommended a mechanical soft diet with thin liquids, small bites and sips, slow rate, and supervision while eating. During observation, the resident was served meals that did not match the ordered texture. At lunch, the tray contained a whole soft dinner roll, ground turkey chili with beans over cream of rice, and whole asparagus spears; the resident attempted to eat the asparagus but was unsuccessful. At breakfast, the tray contained a large slice of thick cut bacon and a whole hard-boiled egg with only a small area of teeth indentation. The meal tickets indicated mechanical soft textures, but the foods served did not match the ordered diet texture for the resident. Interviews with nursing and dietary staff showed confusion and inconsistency in how the diet order was interpreted and prepared. The NA who delivered the trays stated she was new and did not know the resident required a mechanical soft diet or that certain foods needed to be ground or mashed. The Dietary Manager stated the facility did not offer a mechanical soft ground diet, did not know why the ticket reflected that notation, and was not aware that asparagus should have been chopped or that the hard-boiled egg needed to be mashed. The SLP, RD, DON, NP, and Administrator all stated the resident should have received the correct mechanical soft texture, and staff acknowledged that the incorrect textures were served on both observed meals.
Failure to Follow and Transcribe Ordered Therapeutic Diet
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve the appropriate therapeutic diet for Resident #5 according to the resident’s diet order. Resident #5 had a BIMS score of 1, indicating severe cognitive impairment, and diagnoses including Alzheimer’s disease, non-Alzheimer’s disease, and malnutrition. The resident’s MDS documented a mechanically altered diet, and the care plan directed staff to provide the diet as ordered and monitor for signs and symptoms of aspiration or difficulty swallowing. A diet order dated 4/13/26 directed a regular diet with pureed texture and nectar-thick fluids, and a progress note dated 7/2/26 documented new physician orders and feeding instructions for honey-thick liquids, positioning on the resident’s right side, giving a drink after each bite, and continuing the pureed diet. The resident’s record was not updated to reflect the new physician orders and feeding instructions in the physician order tab or Kardex. The July 2026 MAR listed a mighty shake as nectar-thick, and the resident received the nectar-thick supplement from 7/2/26 through 7/20/26. On 7/21/26, surveyors observed thickened water with a lid and straw in the resident’s room, and the DON verified it was nectar consistency. Later that morning, Staff B provided one-on-one feeding assistance while sitting on the resident’s left side instead of the right side ordered by the ARNP, and Staff C also sat on the resident’s left side while assisting with the mighty shake. The DON acknowledged staff did not transcribe the 7/2/26 physician orders to the electronic medical record.
Failure to Serve Ground Meatloaf for Mechanical Soft Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure ground meatloaf was served for residents on mechanically altered diets according to the menu extension sheet. The lunch menu for 07/22/26 listed homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes with gravy, and California blend vegetables, and the menu extension sheet specified that the mechanical soft meatloaf should be ground using a #10 scoop with one ounce of gravy, while pureed meatloaf and vegetables had separate serving sizes. During observation of the lunch tray line, the dietary staff member plating the meals stated there was no ground meatloaf for the mechanical soft diets because she had been told the meatloaf was mechanical soft friendly. Review of the diet type report showed four residents received a mechanical soft diet and one resident received a regular diet with ground meat. The Dietary Manager and Registered Dietitian stated the meatloaf was considered mechanical soft friendly even though the menu extension indicated it should be ground for the mechanical soft diet. The Speech Therapist stated that for mechanical soft diets, meats were typically ground, that meatloaf was considered a formed food unless cut up, and that residents on a mechanical soft diet should have received ground meat. She also verified that four residents she knew needed ground meat and confirmed that the resident she did not know received a mechanical soft diet and should have received ground meatloaf per the menu extension sheet.
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