Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Licensure Reference Number 175 NAC 12-006.09D8b
Based on observations, record review and interview; the facility failed to implement, evaluate and/or revise nutritional interventions to address ongoing and significant weight loss for 3 (Residents 3, 4 and 27) of 4 sampled residents. The facility census was 34.
Findings are:
A.
Review of a Weight Assessment policy with a revision date of 3/19 revealed it was the policy of the facility to prevent, monitor, and intervene to prevent undesirable weight loss for the residents. The following procedure was identified regarding weight assessment:
-staff were to measure the resident's weight on admission, the next day and then weekly thereafter,
-the weights were to be recorded in each resident's individual medical record,
-any weight change of 5 percent (%) or more since the previous weight would be retaken the next day. If the weight was confirmed, the Registered Dietician (RD) was to be notified in writing,
-the RD was to review the weight record by the 15th of the month and evaluate for significant weight changes, and
-the threshold for significant unplanned and undesired weight loss would be based on the following criteria: 5% weight loss in 1 month would be considered significant and greater than 5% severe, 7.5% loss in 3 months was significant and greater than 7.5% severe, and 10% in 6 months was significant and weight loss greater than 10% would be considered severe.
Interventions to address undesirable weight loss were to be based on the following:
-resident choice and preferences,
-nutrition and hydration need,
-functional factors that may inhibit independence with eating,
-environmental factors that could inhibit appetite,
-chewing and swallowing abnormalities,
-medications,
-use of supplements, and
-end of life decisions.
B.
Review of Resident 4's Minimum Data Set (MDS-a federally mandated comprehensive assessment tool used for care planning) dated 2/16/24 revealed diagnoses of chronic pain, anemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), anxiety, depression and dementia and the resident had a weight of 92 pounds (lbs.). In addition, the assessment indicated the resident had an order for a mechanically altered diet (a type of texture-modified diet for people who have difficulty chewing and swallowing) and required supervision and/or touching assistance with eating and drinking. Resident 4 did not have a condition or a chronic disease that could result in a life expectancy of less than 6 months.
Review of Resident 4's current, undated Care Plan revealed the resident had a potential for nutritional problems related to dementia and poor appetite. The following interventions were identified:
-provide and serve nutritional supplements (Ensure to be provided twice a day) as ordered,
-Registered Dietican (RD) to evaluate and make changes as needed,
-monitor intake and record with each meal,
-provide total staff assistance as needed with eating/drinking,
-provide sippy cups with lids and straws,
-resident prefers to have snacks between meals,
-provide diet as ordered (no added salt, mechanical soft with thin liquids), and
-weight weekly.
Review of Resident 4's Weights and Vitals Summary Sheet (form used to document a resident's weight, blood pressure, respiration, temperature, and pulse) revealed the following regarding the resident's weight:
-9/27/23 weight was 92 lbs.
-10/8/23 weight was 88 lbs.
-12/21/23 weight was 85 lbs. (7.6% loss in 3 months)
-1/19/24 weight was 82 lbs.
-2/5/24 weight was 83 lbs. (9.8% loss in 5 months)
Further review of the resident's Weights and Vitals Summary Sheet revealed from 2/6/24 through 4/5/24, there was no further documentation in the electronic medical records of the resident's weights.
Review of a Nutritional Risk Screen dated 2/19/24 at 2:17 PM confirmed the Resident 4's most recent, documented weight was 83 lbs. The screen completed by the RD did not identify the residents significant weight loss and no dietary changes were recommended despite the residents ongoing weight loss.
Review of handwritten documents titled Weekly Bath Sheet from 2/18/24 to 4/5/24 revealed the following:
-received a bath on 2/23/24 with a weight of 84 lbs.
-received a bath on 3/1/24 with a weight of 82 lbs.
-received a bath on 3/6/24 with a weight of 82 lbs.
-received a bath on 3/15/24 with a weight of 84 lbs.
-received a bath on 3/29/24 with a weight of 84 lbs.
-received a bath on 4/5/24 with a weight of 82 lbs.
Review of the resident's meal intakes for the breakfast meal from 3/11/24 through 4/6/24 revealed the following regarding the resident's intakes:
-consumed 0-25% on 3/16 and on 4/3/24,
-consumed 26-50% on 3/26 and on 3/21/24, and
-no documentation of the resident's meal intakes on 3/13, 3/14, 3/17, 3/18, 3/19, 3/23, 3/24, 3/27, and on 3/28/24 (9 out of 25 meals provided).
Review of meal intakes for the noon meal from 3/11/24 through 4/6/24 revealed the following regarding meal intakes:
-consumed 0-25% on 3/26, 3/29, 3/30, 3/31, 3/16, 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, and 4/4/24 (9 out of 21 meals provided),
-consumed 26-50% on 3/12, 3/15, 3/25, 4/1, 4/2, and 4/3/24 (6 out of 21 meals), and
-no documentation of the resident's meal intakes on 3/13, 3/14, 3/17, 3/18, 3/19, 3/23, 3/24, 3/27, and 3/28/24 (9 out of 21 days).
Review of Resident 4's evening meal intakes from 3/11/24 to 4/4/24 revealed the following:
-consumed 0-25% on 3/16, 3/20, 3/21, 3/22, and 4/2/24 (5 out of 21 days),
-consumed 26-50% on 3/11, 3/25, 3/30, and 4/1/24 (4 out of 21 meals served),
-no documentation of the resident's meal intakes on 3/14, 3/15, 3/18, 3/19, 3/23, 3/24, 3/27, 3/28, 3/31 and 4/4/24 (10 out of the 21 days the meal was offered).
Observations of Resident 4 on 4/7/24 at the noon meal revealed the following:
-12:15 PM the resident was seated in a tilt-n-space wheelchair (chair with ability to tilt the resident up to 30-60 degrees, while maintaining hip and knee angles at 90 degrees) next to the assisted, dining room table. The resident's chair was tilted approximately 30 degrees and bilateral foot pedals were elevated. A sippy cup with water and a container of Ensure Nutritional Supplement were positioned on the table in front of the resident. The wheelchair had been pushed away from the table, and the resident was unable to access and/or reach the drinks, Resident 4 attempted multiple times to reach out and to grasp the table to pull the wheelchair closer but was unable.
-12:30 PM the resident's meal of mashed potatoes with gravy, and ground meat with gravy was served. Resident 4 remained unable to reach the table.
-12:35 PM Nurse Aide (NA)-C offered the resident a bite of the mashed potatoes. NA-C then walked away from the resident and proceeded to help with meal intakes for Residents 5, 7 and 15 who were positioned at the same table as Resident 4. NA-C continued to rotate between the residents offering each 1-2 bites of food before continuing to assist the next resident.
-12:58 PM the resident was assisted out of the dining room. The resident had consumed only bites of the noon meal but did consume 100% of the Ensure Supplement.
During an interview on 4/8/24 at 4:30 PM with the Director of Nursing (DON) confirmed the following:
-the resident should have been provided increased and timely assistance with eating/drinking the resident's noon meal on 4/7/24.
-the nursing staff were responsible for documenting the resident's meal intakes after each meal.
-the facility did not have a qualified Dietary Manager (DM) and the RD was to come to the facility every other week.
-the RD was responsible for reviewing the resident's weights and was to notify the nursing staff if a weight loss was identified.
-the resident's weights were to be obtained weekly with the resident's bath and then documented in the electronic medical record.
-the DON was unaware the resident's weights were not being documented in the electronic medical record and was not aware of the resident's significant weight loss.
-the RD would not have had access to the handwritten bathing schedules with the resident's weights and did not identify the resident had no documented weight since 2/5/24 or had a significant weight loss.
-there was no documented evidence the RD had provided further assessment and monitoring of the resident's nutritional status and weight loss since the Nutritional Risk Screen completed 2/19/24 at 2:17 PM.
-no additional interventions were developed to address the resident's ongoing and significant weight loss.
C.
A record review of Resident 27's admission Record revealed the resident was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with a primary diagnosis of Cerebral Infarction due to Thrombosis of Right Middle Cerebral Artery.
A record review of Resident 27's MDS, dated [DATE], revealed in Section K that the resident had not had a weight loss and that they were on a therapeutic diet. Section GG revealed that the resident required partial/moderate assistance with eating.
A record review of Resident 27's Physician's Orders revealed the resident was on a Consistent Carbohydrate diet and that the resident was not receiving any dietary supplements. The resident also had an order, with a start date of 11/30/2022 that stated to obtain the resident's weight monthly.
A record review of Resident 27's undated Care Plan revealed the resident had a goal to have no significant weight loss of 5% in 30 days or 10% in 180 days and interventions to meet this goal included for staff to monitor the resident's intake and to record every meal. On 3/7/2023, a focus was added of I am independent in eating with interventions including I eat in the dining room and I want staff to monitor for changes in my ability to eat independently or safely. There was also an intervention, initiated on 12/14/2022, that stated to weight the resident weekly.
A record review of Resident 27's most recent Nutritional Screen Assessment, completed on 3/18/24 by the RD revealed documentation that the resident had not had any weight loss and that the resident's average food intake over the prior 7 days had been 75-100%.
A record review conducted on 4/9/24 of Resident 27's Task: Nutrition- Breakfast revealed there was no documentation for 10 of the previous 30 days. The resident consumed less than 50% of their meal on 8 days and there was no alternate food offered according to the documentation.
A record review conducted on 4/9/24 of Resident 27's Task: Nutrition- Lunch revealed there was no documentation for 10 of the previous 30 days. The resident consumed less than 50% of their meal on 7 days with the resident being offered an alternate food only one of those days. The resident did consume over 75% of the alternate food that day.
A record review conducted on 4/9/24 of Resident 27's Task: Nutrition- Dinner revealed there was no documentation for 11 of the previous 30 days. The resident consumed less than 50% of their meal on 8 days with the resident being offered an alternate food 6 of those days. The resident consumed 25% or less of the alternates offered.
A record review conducted on 4/9/24 of Resident 27's Task: Nutrition- HS (hour of sleep) Snacks revealed there was no documentation for 9 of the previous 30 days. The resident consumed an HS snack one time according to the documentation.
A record review of a document provided by the facility administrator on 4/9/24 revealed Resident 27 had not had a weight documented in their electronic health record since 3/4/24.
A record review of a document provided by [NAME] President of Operations(VPO)-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated March 3rd-9th revealed Resident 27 had a bath on 3/4/24 with a weight documented of 144 pounds. The resident also had a bath on 3/9/24 with a weight documented of 142.5 pounds. There were no other baths or weights documented that week.
A record review of a document provided by VPO-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated March 10th-16th revealed Resident 27 had a bath on 3/16/24 with a weight documented of 137.5 pounds. There were no other baths or weights documented that week.
A record review of a document provided by VPO-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated March 17th-23rd revealed Resident 27 did not received any baths that week and had no weights documented.
A record review of a document provided by VPO-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated March 24th-30th revealed Resident 27 had a bath on 3/25/24 with a weight documented of 135.5 pounds. There were no other baths or weights documented that week.
A record review of a document provided by VPO-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated March 31st- April 6th revealed Resident 27 had a bath on 4/6/24 but there was no weight documented. There were no other baths or weights documented that week.
A record review conducted on 4/10/24 of a document provided by VPO-H titled Weekly Bath Sheet and dated April 7th-13th revealed Resident 27 had not had a bath yet that week and had no weights documented.
Based on the record review of Resident 27's weights of 144 pounds on 3/4/24 and 135.5 pounds on 3/25/24, the resident had a 5.9% weight loss in less than one month.
A record review of the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument 3.0 User's Manual revealed a weight change of 5% in 1 month was a significant amount of weight loss and should prompt a thorough assessment of the resident's nutritional status.
An observation on 4/7/24 beginning at 12:14 PM revealed Resident 27 sitting at a table in the dining room with their eyes closed. NA-C put a plate of food on the table in front of the resident and cut up the chicken that was on the plate. NA-C attempted to wake the resident by saying their name and gently shaking the resident's shoulder, then walked away from the resident's table. The resident did not respond or open their eyes.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:26 PM revealed Resident 27 continued to have their eyes closed with their food still sitting in front of them, uneaten. No staff had reapproached the resident during this time.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:31 PM revealed Resident 27 opening their eyes, looking around, then closing their eyes again. The food was still sitting in front of the resident, uneaten, and no staff had reapproached the resident.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:48 PM revealed Resident 27 with their eyes still closed, the same uneaten food in front of them, and no staff had reapproached the resident.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:51 PM revealed NA-C approached the resident at that time and woke the resident. NA-C asked the resident if they wanted something else to eat, walked over to the kitchen, then went to the table next to Resident 27's table and began assisting another resident without reapproaching Resident 27.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:53 PM revealed Resident 27 had closed their eyes again and had no begun eating their food.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 12:56 PM revealed NA-C moved Resident 27's plate away from the resident, placed a bowl of soup in front of the resident, and then walked away. Resident 27 looked at the soup and then closed their eyes again.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 01:01 PM revealed Resident 27 with their eyes still closed and no staff had reapproached them.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 1:20 PM revealed Resident 27 with their eyes still closed with the same bowl of soup in front of them, untouched. No staff had reapproached the resident during this time.
A continued observation on 4/7/24 at 1:23 PM revealed NA-C woke Resident 27, spoke briefly to them, and then took the resident from the table and back to their room. The resident's soup remained uneaten and the drinks that had been on the table throughout the mealtime were not drank.
An observation on 4/8/24 beginning at 8:17 AM revealed Resident 27 sitting at a dining room table with their eyes open. The resident then closed their eyes and bowed their head at 8:18 AM.
A continued observation on 4/8/24 at 8:27 AM revealed Resident 27 still sitting at the table with their eyes open and with no food having been served to them yet. The resident did have two cups with straws in front of them that were full.
A continued observation on 4/8/24 at 8:33 AM revealed Resident 27 still sitting at the table but had their head bowed and eyes closed. A white mashed substance in a bowl that was sitting on top of a plate and a biscuit, syrup, and butter had been placed in front of the resident but there was no staff at the table assisting the resident.
A continued observation on 4/8/24 at 8:40 AM revealed MA-A waking Resident 27 and then MA-A poured the syrup into the bowl and mixed it with the food in the bowl. MA-A cued the resident to pick up their spoon and take a bite. Resident 27 then stirred the food with the spoon and then started taking bites independently.
An observation on 4/8/24 at 12:50 PM revealed Resident 27 sitting in their wheelchair in their room. The resident's head was bowed, and their eyes were closed. There was an overbed table in front of the resident with a pitcher of water on it but no other food or fluids.
An observation on 4/8/24 at 12:59 PM revealed Resident 27 still sitting in their wheelchair in their room with their eyes closed. A plate of food and a small cup of red liquid were sitting on the overbed table in front of the resident. There was no staff present in the resident's room and the plate of food was untouched.
An observation on 4/8/24 at 1:55 PM revealed Resident 27 still sitting in the same position as an hour prior with the same food sitting untouched in front of them and no staff in the room. The resident did have their eyes open at that time and was looking around their room.
An observation on 4/8/24 at 2:10 PM revealed Resident 27 still sitting in the same position with the same food sitting untouched in front of them and no staff in the room. The resident was watching the television in their room.
An observation on 4/8/24 at 2:48 PM revealed Resident 27 sitting in their recliner with their legs elevated and their eyes closed. The plate of food was no longer in resident's room.
An interview on 4/8/24 at 2:50 PM with MA-A revealed Resident 27 had eaten a couple of bites of the potato salad that had been on the plate in their room, but the resident had not wanted to eat anything else.
An observation on 4/9/24 at 8:55 AM revealed Resident 27 sitting in their recliner with their eyes open and looking toward the television, which was not turned on. There was water in a pitcher on the resident's overbed table that was positioned near the resident.
An observation on 4/9/24 at 9:34 AM revealed Resident 27 sitting in their recliner with their eyes closed. There was a plate with cut up sausage and a bowl with hot cereal sitting on the overbed table in front of the resident.
An observation on 4/9/24 at 10:31 AM revealed Resident 27 still sitting in their recliner, their feet had been elevated, and their eyes were closed. The plate and bowl were sitting on a counter near the resident's door with all of the food still remaining.
An interview on 4/9/24 at 3:30 PM with the DON revealed Resident 27 had had a stomach bug since the previous Friday and had not been eating as well as they normally did, and that the resident's fluid intake had been hit and miss. The DON revealed that when residents who normally eat independently were not eating well, the DON's expectation would be for staff to assist the resident.
An interview on 4/10/2024 at 9:08 AM with NA-K revealed Resident 27 occasionally ate in their room but their level of assistance needed varied by day depending on the resident's alertness and that the staff would check on the resident to see their progress with eating and if the resident had not eaten, the staff would provide feeding assistance.
An interview on 4/10/24 at 9:50 AM with the DON confirmed that the bath aides were supposed to transfer weights that were written on the bath sheets into each resident's electronic health record in Point Click Care (PCC). The DON confirmed there was no one verifying that the weights were being entered in PCC. The DON confirmed they were not aware of Resident 27's recent weight loss prior to the interview.
D.
A record review of an admission Record indicated the facility admitted Resident 14 on 1/17/2020 with diagnoses of Dementia, Parkinson's disease, delusional disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, anxiety, heart failure, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.
A record review of Resident 14's weights revealed the following:
-
10/21/2023: 169.5 lb
-
11/23/2023: 159.5 lb
-
12/27/2023: 153 lb
-
1/30/2024: 146.5 lb
-
2/28/2024: 143.5 lb
-
3/27/2024: 141 lb (-16.81% loss over 6 months)
A record review of a Nutritional Evaluation with a date of 1/9/2024 confirmed a significant weight loss of 56 pounds over past year and referred to Care Plan for nutritional plan.
A record review of Resident 14's Activities of Daily Living Care Plan revealed Resident 14 had an ADL self-care performance deficit related to loose fitting dentures, tremors in hands, and limited mobility. The interventions included Resident 14 required assistance by 1 staff to eat with a date initiated of 9/3/2023.
An interview on 4/7/2024 at 3:02 PM with Resident 14's family member revealed Resident 14 needs cued to open mouth during feeding as Resident 14 does not open mouth very well and tremors have made it difficult to eat independently.
An observation on 4/8/2024 at 12:39 PM revealed NA-A had stopped feeding assistance to go outside.
An observation on 4/8/2024 at 12:47 PM revealed NA-A had stopped feeding assistance to go outside.
An observation on 4/8/2024 at 12:56 PM revealed NA-A had stopped feeding assistance to resident while being on personal cellphone.
An observation on 4/8/2024 at 1:01 PM revealed Resident 14 had ate less than 25% of the meal.
An interview on 4/9/2024 at 9:48 with NA-A revealed Resident 14 needs assistance with feeding since the last six to twelve months due to an increase in tremors and inability to feed self.
An interview on 4/9/2024 at 5:00 PM with DON revealed expectation would be for aides to assist with feeding uninterrupted according to Care Plan for interventions.
A record review of Resident 14's Nutritional Care Plan, initiated on 7/10/2023, revealed Resident 14 had a potential nutritional problem for weight loss related to confusion with an intervention to monitor intake and record each meal.
A record review of meal intakes revealed there were no meal intakes charted for breakfast or lunch on 4/6/2024, 4/7/2024, or 4/8/2024.