Finding Description
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, record review, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure palatability for residents' food being served at an appropriate temperature for 3 of 3 residents (Resident (R)29, R31, and R30) out of 13 sampled residents. This failure had the potential to affect all 34 residents (2 puree, 11 mechanical textures, and 21 regular) in the facility, who received food that was cold and undesirable to eat. This had the potential to create dissatisfaction with meals and decrease the residents' quality of life.
Findings include:
Review of the facility's undated policy titled, Food Temperatures, indicated, Foods will be maintained at proper temperature to ensure food safety. The point of service temperature to residents will be within the range of 120-140 degrees based on the resident's preference. The following range of temperatures is recommended for food at point of tray assembly. Broth, soup, hot beverages 180-190 degrees F [Fahrenheit] 160 Meat, portioned for service degrees F, Casserole dishes, creamed items, creamed soup 160 degrees F, Potatoes and vegetables 160 degrees F and Chilled food and beverages 40 degrees F or below.
1. Review of R29's Face Sheet located in the electronic medical record (EMR) under the Profile tab revealed that R29 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with a diagnoses that included but was not limited to: age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture, and scoliosis, unspecified.
Review of R29's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 02/19/25, located under the MDS tab revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15, which indicated R29 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:02 AM, R29 revealed that the food was very cold. R29 stated in the mornings, My butter will not melt in the grits, they are so cold. R29 stated everybody wanted to have hot grits, just hot food in general. R29 stated they were not sure why they could not keep the food warm coming from the kitchen to their rooms.
2. Review of R31's Face Sheet located in the EMR under the Profile tab revealed that R31 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses that included but was not limited to: adult failure to thrive,. Further review revealed R31 was on hospice.
Review of R31's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 01/11/25, located under the MDS tab revealed a BIMS score of 14 out of 15, which indicated R31 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:10 AM, R31 indicated the food could be hotter, didn't know how many people were working in the building, but could do a better job making sure they got hot food.
3. Review of R30's EMR located in the Profile tab indicated the R30 was admitted on [DATE], with a diagnoses including but not limited to: chronic kidney disease.
Review of R30's significant change MDS with an ARD of 02/26/25, indicated R30 had a BIMS of 14 out of 15, which indicated R30 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:56 AM, R30 revealed the food was usually cold, and on dialysis days, I do not get a hot breakfast; it is usually cereal and applesauce.
Review of Resident Council Meeting Minutes, dated 07/01/24, revealed a complaint/grievance report that food was cold. The findings included by Dietary Manager (DM)1 revealed, The food leaves the kitchen at the proper temperature. The cooks take temperatures and document as necessary. Plan to resolve the complaint/grievance, residents who specify will have there [sic] trays heated before giving directly to them. Expected results of actions, this action will eliminate the complaint of the food not being warm enough. Signed by DM1 on 07/24/24. Further review of the Resident Council Meeting Minutes revealed on 01/06/25 and 02/05/25, complaints of meals being cold.
During lunch observations on 04/02/25 at 11:27 AM, the menu included beef tips and rice, mixed vegetables, fruit, roll, coffee, and milk. The tray line was observed at 11:50 AM with meat at 148 degrees Fahrenheit (F), puree 130 degrees F, mechanical was 176 degrees F, vegetables was 146 degrees F, puree vegetable was 144 degrees F, and rice was 148 degrees F. The test tray left the kitchen at 12:07 PM.
During an observation and interview on 04/02/25 at 12:24 PM, the test tray was evaluated with DM1, the beef tips were 114 degrees F, and the vegetables were 100 degrees F. The food was tested together, and DM1 confirmed that the food was not very warm. DM1 revealed that the cart was not heated, the food was taken from the steam table, placed onto the plates, and covered with the dome. DM1 stated, We are trying to figure out a way to get the food to the residents while it is still hot.
During an observation and interview on 04/03/25 at 11:45 AM, in the kitchen, the menu and temperatures for the day was smothered turkey in gravy 180 degrees F, mashed potatoes 160 degrees F, puree 160 degrees F, mechanical soft 160 degrees F, vegetable (carrots) 175 degrees F, and puree vegetable 160 degrees F. The test tray left the kitchen at 12:11 PM. The test tray was evaluated at 12:25 PM with DM1 and DM2, which revealed the meat was 110 degrees F, potatoes 130 degrees F, and carrots 118 degrees F. Both DMs confirmed that there was a huge drop with temperatures and the food for the residents needed to be warmer.
During an interview on 04/03/25 at 10:57 AM, the Registered Dietician (RD) explained that they ensured food temperatures were maximized before leaving the kitchen. Specifically, regarding the beef tips, the dietician admitted that the temperature should have been higher at the time of plating. The RD stated although they had not received recent complaints about cold food, she would recommend implementing temperature checks over several days to monitor the situation more effectively.
During an interview on 04/03/25 at 3:50 PM, the Administrator indicated they had been working on getting new carts, which would hold the temperatures of the food. The Administrator acknowledged being aware of the food temperature problem since they had received multiple complaints from the same group of people.
Findings include:
Review of the facility's undated policy titled, Food Temperatures, indicated, Foods will be maintained at proper temperature to ensure food safety. The point of service temperature to residents will be within the range of 120-140 degrees based on the resident's preference. The following range of temperatures is recommended for food at point of tray assembly. Broth, soup, hot beverages 180-190 degrees F [Fahrenheit] 160 Meat, portioned for service degrees F, Casserole dishes, creamed items, creamed soup 160 degrees F, Potatoes and vegetables 160 degrees F and Chilled food and beverages 40 degrees F or below.
1. Review of R29's Face Sheet located in the electronic medical record (EMR) under the Profile tab revealed that R29 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with a diagnoses that included but was not limited to: age-related osteoporosis without current pathological fracture, and scoliosis, unspecified.
Review of R29's Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) with an Assessment Reference Date (ARD) of 02/19/25, located under the MDS tab revealed a Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 15 out of 15, which indicated R29 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:02 AM, R29 revealed that the food was very cold. R29 stated in the mornings, My butter will not melt in the grits, they are so cold. R29 stated everybody wanted to have hot grits, just hot food in general. R29 stated they were not sure why they could not keep the food warm coming from the kitchen to their rooms.
2. Review of R31's Face Sheet located in the EMR under the Profile tab revealed that R31 was admitted to the facility on [DATE], with diagnoses that included but was not limited to: adult failure to thrive,. Further review revealed R31 was on hospice.
Review of R31's quarterly MDS with an ARD of 01/11/25, located under the MDS tab revealed a BIMS score of 14 out of 15, which indicated R31 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:10 AM, R31 indicated the food could be hotter, didn't know how many people were working in the building, but could do a better job making sure they got hot food.
3. Review of R30's EMR located in the Profile tab indicated the R30 was admitted on [DATE], with a diagnoses including but not limited to: chronic kidney disease.
Review of R30's significant change MDS with an ARD of 02/26/25, indicated R30 had a BIMS of 14 out of 15, which indicated R30 was cognitively intact.
During an interview on 04/01/25 at 11:56 AM, R30 revealed the food was usually cold, and on dialysis days, I do not get a hot breakfast; it is usually cereal and applesauce.
Review of Resident Council Meeting Minutes, dated 07/01/24, revealed a complaint/grievance report that food was cold. The findings included by Dietary Manager (DM)1 revealed, The food leaves the kitchen at the proper temperature. The cooks take temperatures and document as necessary. Plan to resolve the complaint/grievance, residents who specify will have there [sic] trays heated before giving directly to them. Expected results of actions, this action will eliminate the complaint of the food not being warm enough. Signed by DM1 on 07/24/24. Further review of the Resident Council Meeting Minutes revealed on 01/06/25 and 02/05/25, complaints of meals being cold.
During lunch observations on 04/02/25 at 11:27 AM, the menu included beef tips and rice, mixed vegetables, fruit, roll, coffee, and milk. The tray line was observed at 11:50 AM with meat at 148 degrees Fahrenheit (F), puree 130 degrees F, mechanical was 176 degrees F, vegetables was 146 degrees F, puree vegetable was 144 degrees F, and rice was 148 degrees F. The test tray left the kitchen at 12:07 PM.
During an observation and interview on 04/02/25 at 12:24 PM, the test tray was evaluated with DM1, the beef tips were 114 degrees F, and the vegetables were 100 degrees F. The food was tested together, and DM1 confirmed that the food was not very warm. DM1 revealed that the cart was not heated, the food was taken from the steam table, placed onto the plates, and covered with the dome. DM1 stated, We are trying to figure out a way to get the food to the residents while it is still hot.
During an observation and interview on 04/03/25 at 11:45 AM, in the kitchen, the menu and temperatures for the day was smothered turkey in gravy 180 degrees F, mashed potatoes 160 degrees F, puree 160 degrees F, mechanical soft 160 degrees F, vegetable (carrots) 175 degrees F, and puree vegetable 160 degrees F. The test tray left the kitchen at 12:11 PM. The test tray was evaluated at 12:25 PM with DM1 and DM2, which revealed the meat was 110 degrees F, potatoes 130 degrees F, and carrots 118 degrees F. Both DMs confirmed that there was a huge drop with temperatures and the food for the residents needed to be warmer.
During an interview on 04/03/25 at 10:57 AM, the Registered Dietician (RD) explained that they ensured food temperatures were maximized before leaving the kitchen. Specifically, regarding the beef tips, the dietician admitted that the temperature should have been higher at the time of plating. The RD stated although they had not received recent complaints about cold food, she would recommend implementing temperature checks over several days to monitor the situation more effectively.
During an interview on 04/03/25 at 3:50 PM, the Administrator indicated they had been working on getting new carts, which would hold the temperatures of the food. The Administrator acknowledged being aware of the food temperature problem since they had received multiple complaints from the same group of people.