After numerous attempts to discuss this with management for over a year the meals are getting worse. Sometimes they don’t even deliver the meal or leave many items out often they don’t prepare enough food and receive leftovers otherwise we go without. It’s pure neglect and lack of care and respect for the residents. Unfortunately, they do not make any effort to correct these problems that could be solved by purchasing and preparing enough food and hiring a professional chef with experience and credentials.
I am personally paying out of pocket for my own food even though this is an expensive facility that advertises their grommet cuisine and chef. I have numerous pictures and descriptions of the items that document the poor quality, unacceptable presentation and preparation of the food. Plus receipts from the grocery stores where I spent my money for food that is edible and healthy. Can I take this problem to a higher authority or an agency that monitors the independent living facilities. My health is suffering from their negligence of missed deliveries, meals that are not edible, poorly prepared and unhealthy foods plus the added expense of having to buy my own food. the stress that this has caused me has caused a decline in my health. I am not able to leave this facility so I’m interested in pursuing another option if possible.
1. Assuming you are dealing with a licensed facility, the meals have to meet nutritional guidelines.
2. Meals don't have to be tasty, they just must meet nutritional guidelines, conform to doctor's orders (e.g. soft foods, low sodium), and cannot cause health issues. For instance, the vegetables don't have to be fresh, they can be frozen or come from a can.
3. If the facility is licensed, they have to provide the meals they say they are going to have, plus conform to sanitation rules. Each state has their own rules to what is required around food. In my state, I was told that in the smaller licensed care facilities, must submit the next month's menus before the start of the month to ensure that it meets state guidelines. However, in some cases, what is submitted may not be exactly the same as what is served due to "resident's preference". In the larger facilities, they told us they have a rotating 10 or 12 week menu.
4. If the facility is unlicensed, then the office of aging may be able to help you to your satisfaction.
5. If the facility is unlicensed and you feel this is endangering your health, you might be able to get a lawyer to help you out.
Bottom line: This is why you want to be in a licensed facility, even if they cost more.
As a side note: My Mom was a registered dietician and did unannounced reviews of facilities for the state. She caught one facility using a single small can of tuna for the protein to feed 30 people. She remembered it throughout her entire life, even during her dementia. When we were researching facilities for her to move in, we always made sure they were licensed and we always observed what people were served during lunch and/or dinner. Food is a very important component of senior life.
Still, pursue it with the director of nutritional services there, plus the ombudsman.
Independent Living means that you have the ability to still be able to do for yourself. Your apartment should have some sort of mini kitchen at the least. IL means you are competent and cognitive enough on your decision making skills. You choose to continue to live there. Why is it that you cannot find another IL to move into?
If this situation has been going on for over a year and with no real improvement in that period of time, and if your meeting with dietary doesn’t provide for changes, it will imo not ever get better unless the IL has the ability to significantly increase (I’d guess by 20%) its pay rates for dietary staff & back of the house kitchen personnel with immediate benefits & increase its food budget by 30-35%. This IL would have to do huge rent increases which they won’t do.
Right now anything that has to deal with food - whether it’s at home, independent restaurant, part of a multi unit, foodservice at a school, hospital, a facility - all are facing supply chain issues, increased costs of products and uncertain labor costs. At home, we can switch out to do 70% bacon & egg’s rather than 70% eggs & bacon, but a facility can’t easily switch out. They are stuck having to do cheap crappy cuts of #10 cans. To be quite honest, dietary at IL, NH type of place is imo where a credential chef - like ACF, J&W level - ends up at bad careers end. A experienced chef can easily get a spot at a big hotel group with lots of BOH staff, equipment, good pay & benefits and ability to move other properties at best or vacay at these at a minimum.
If the kitchen is passing its safety and sanitation inspections, and its purchasing logs are meeting or exceeding dietary/ nutritional standards, and its menu plans are as well, they are in compliance. It gets into a grey area of preference and choice; that you prefer to and choose to get meals outside of those provided. That is the likely position the IL will take. if it’s been like this for over a year, review your contract as to how to a cancel it and find a new facility.
If so and they are not meeting the guidelines set by your doctor then they are in violation of a medical order. THAT can be reported.
You can contact the Ombudsman in your State and file a complaint.
I have to ask..Why are you not able to leave that particular facility?
there are other facilities and since this is an Independent Living facility you can leave and tour other facilities. (I suggest you do so at a meal time and sit and talk to residents.)
reading other responses I LOVE MargaretMcKen's comment to take this to Social Media. FB posts and comments do have impact
Your facility is not cooking 'per doctor's orders' b/c it's not a medical facility. It's an independent living facility for capable seniors.
You can report the IL to whomever you like, but I doubt anything will be done about an employment issue.
Since nobody is forcing you to stay there, I'd move. You're self paying and should be getting a good quality food plan for your money. You'd have better luck doing that than filing complaints and expecting things to change. Unless there's health code violation going on or something like that.
You'd have less than no luck trying to convince a lawyer to take your 'case' claiming your health is suffering from poorly prepared and presented food when you have the ability to move! Hire a wheelchair van or medical moving service to move you out bodily, and a moving service to pack you up and get your belongings to another property.
Best of luck with a difficult situation.
I am sorry that the food in your independent living isn’t good.
It’s sad that you are having to spend additional money on food. I bet you wish that you could move into another building.
I like the suggestion of leaving a bad review of their food. Maybe if enough residents complained as a whole, things would improve.
Best wishes to you.
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