complaint·May 23, 2024

Regarding the allegation that staff do not provide adequate food service: it was alleged that there are no dedicated meal servers, all caregivers are asked to serve food during meal times with no one covering caregiving duties, there is concern about cross-contamination of food since caregivers are putting on and removing gloves repeatedly as they juggle resident care needs and food service, the facility does not have a full time chef and the chef only supervises breakfast and snacks, and the facility uses catering for lunch and dinner. LPA interviewed seven residents regarding this allegation and did not obtain information corroborating the allegation. LPA interviewed AD who denied the allegation and stated that during meals there are two kitchen staff inside the kitchen plating food, two caregivers inside the dining room serving the residents, two caregivers making the rounds to provide care to residents along with a medication technician, and that staff do not switch between providing care and serving food in order to prevent cross-contamination. LPA inspected the facility and LPA’s observations did not corroborate the allegation. Regarding cross-contamination, LPA reviewed the facility’s food service protocols which contain the facility’s procedures for preventing cross-contamination which include the sanitation procedure to be followed if a staff member were to provide food service after providing care to residents. Per AD, staff are trained on the facility’s food service protocols and either an extra caregiver is assigned to work in the dining room and kitchen the entire day or the caregiver would start their day working in the dining room and kitchen and then switch to providing care afterwards. However, AD admitted that between March 30, 2024 and May 14, 2024, the facility did not have a full time chef as required. During the course of the investigation, the Department obtained sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation mentioned above. The preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is Substantiated. See LIC9099D for cited deficiencies per Title 22 Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations. An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report and appeal rights was discussed with and provided to facility representative. This is an amended report