Dignity not maintained during assisted dining
Summary
The facility failed to ensure a dignified dining experience for one resident with severe cognitive impairment. The resident had diagnoses including Alzheimer's disease, anxiety disorder, depression, and adjustment disorder, and her MDS showed a BIMS score of two, frequent wandering and physical behaviors toward others, and a need for partial to moderate assistance with eating. Her care plan also noted that dementia impaired her ability to consume meals consistently. During dining observations, the resident was seated in her wheelchair with an alarm and seat belt in place, and she was lined up with other wheelchairs outside the dining room before meals. When she was brought into the dining room, her seat belt remained buckled throughout the meal even though staff were present. Her meal tray was placed on the table with the plate, cups, and utensils still on the tray, and a clipboard listing resident names and assistance needs was visible near the dining room entrance. Behind the resident, staff were scraping food off plates into a large trash bin, pounding dishes on the side of the trash can, and placing empty dishes in the dish room window, all within the resident's direct line of sight and hearing. On another observation, the resident spilled tea onto her tray and over her food, but she was not offered help to clean the spill or given a new plate of food. She began scooping food off her plate onto the tray and mixing it with the tea, and no cuing or encouragement to eat was provided. An LPN later assisted her with dessert while standing over her rather than at eye level, and the soiled tray remained in front of her during the assistance. Staff continued scraping dishes and discarding food into the trash container during the meal service. Interviews confirmed staff expected residents to be lined up outside the dining room, that the clipboard contained protected health information, that staff should assist residents at eye level, and that spilled food and beverages should be replaced or cleaned promptly.
Penalty
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