Complaint·September 6, 2023

Regarding Allegation #1: Staff are not ensuring that resident is fed while in care. This complaint alleges that the facility is charging five-dollar food tray fee for residents that do not eat in the dining room. LPA Calderon conducted an interview with A1. A1 expressed that with Covid19 being reduced the facility was going back to food services in the dining room. A1 expressed that if a resident for health condition was not able to go to the dining room staff will take food to resident’s room. A1 expressed that the additional five dollars per meal service tray was not in the admission agreement R1 or any other resident signed and nothing in writing was given to residents regarding the additional fees. A1 expressed that R1 was non-ambulatory and could not go to the dining room for meals and R1 was not charged the additional service tray fee. A1 states that staff delivered R1 food to R1 room and R1 was never charged the try service fee. A1 expressed that this new program just started in August 2023 and no resident has had to pay the additional tray service fee. LPA Calderon conducted an interview with R1. R1 expressed that R1 refused to pay the tray service fee of five dollars for a total of fifteen dollars per day. R1 expressed that the additional food tray fee was not in the admission agreement R1 signed and R1 made a complaint to A1. R1 expressed that R1 was not capable of going to the dining room due to health conditions and staff delivered food to R1 room. LPA Calderon interviewed 6 out of 7 clients #2-#7 (R2-R7) reported that residents heard of the new five-dollar room tray service fee for residents capable of eating in the dining room. Six out of seven residents have not paid any tray service fees to the facility. Six out of seven residents expressed that residents do not have the additional 15 dollars to pay the tray service fee and staff does deliver food to residents’ room. On 09/06/2023 LPA Calderon reviewed R1 admission agreement. LPA Calderon did not see any additional food tray service fees for residents not capable of eating their meals in the dining room. The admission agreement does provide for residents with health issues and not capable of going to the dining room. The agreement does state that staff does deliver food to residents that cannot eat in the dining room. LPA Calderon reviewed R1 needs and service plan and physician agreement. R1 has health condition and is non-ambulatory. R1 needs help getting out of bed into wheelchair. R1 meets the definition under the admission agreement section 3(b)(5)(17).Based on interviews, observations, and supporting documentation, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the allegation of “staff are not ensuring that resident is fed while in care” is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. According to the California Code of Regulations (Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8) the following deficiency has been observed and citations issued (ref LIC9099D). An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of the Complaint Report and Appeal Rights were provided to the Administrator (Melissa Christopher) A1.