La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6849 - Meals Provided by the ARCP

A. For meals that are prepared and/or served by the ARCP, the ARCP shall offer to residents who choose to participate, a minimum of three varied, palatable meals per day, seven days a week.

1. Foods shall be prepared and served in a way that assures that they are appetizing, attractive, and nutritious and that promotes socialization among the residents.

2. The ARCP is permitted to offer liberalized diets. The nutritionist or licensed dietician may recommend to the physician to temporarily abate dietary restrictions and liberalize the diet to improve the resident's food intake.

B. The ARCP shall make reasonable accommodations, as stated in the residents PCSP to:

1. meet dietary requirements, including following medically prescribed diets; however, nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit the ARCP from offering liberalized diets as recommended by the nutritionist or licensed dietician;

2. meet religious and ethnic preferences;

3. meet the temporary need for meals delivered to the residents living area;

4. meet residents personal routines and preferences; and

5. ensure snacks, fruits and beverages are available to residents at all times.

C. Staff shall be available in the dining area to assist with meal service, meal set up and to give individual attention as needed.

1. Dietary staff shall not store personal items within the food preparation and storage areas.

2. The kitchen shall not be used for dining of residents or unauthorized personnel.

3. Dietary staff shall use good hygienic practices.

4. Dietary employees engaged in the handling, preparation and serving of food shall use effective hair restraints to prevent the contamination of food or food contact surfaces.

5. Staff with communicable diseases or infected skin lesions shall not have contact with food if that contact will transmit the disease.

6. Garbage and refuse shall be kept in durable, easily cleanable, covered containers that do not leak and do not absorb liquids.

7. Containers used in food preparation and utensil washing areas shall be kept covered when meal preparation is completed and when full.

D. If a licensed dietitian is not employed full-time, the ARCP shall designate a full-time person to serve as the dietary manager.

1. The dietary manager who oversees food preparation may also fulfill other staff roles in the ARCP.

2. The dietary manager shall have Servsafe certification.

E. Serving times for meals prepared and/or served by the ARCP shall be posted.

F. The menus for meals prepared and/or served by the ARCP, at a minimum, shall be reviewed and approved by a nutritionist or licensed dietician to assure their nutritional appropriateness for the settings residents.

1. Menus shall be planned and written at least one week in advance and dated as served. The current weeks menu shall be posted in one or more prominent place(s) for the current week in order to facilitate residents choices about whether they wish to join in the meals prepared and/or served by the ARCP.

2. The ARCP shall furnish medically prescribed diets to all residents for which it is designated in the service plan.

3. Records of all menus as serviced shall be kept on file for at least 30 days.

4. All substitutions made on the master menu shall be recorded in writing.

G. Medically prescribed diets, prepared and/or served by the ARCP, shall be documented in the resident's record. There shall be a procedure for the accurate transmittal of dietary orders to the dietary manager when the resident does not receive the ordered diet or is unable to consume the diet, with action taken as appropriate.

H. Food shall be in sound condition, free from spoilage, filth, or other contamination and shall be safe for human consumption.

I. All food preparation areas (excluding areas in residents' units) shall be maintained in accordance with LAC Title 51 Sanitary Code. Pets are not allowed in food preparation and serving areas.

J. If food is prepared in a central kitchen and delivered to separate physical sites, provision shall be made for proper maintenance of food temperatures and a sanitary mode of transportation.

K. Refrigeration

1. The ARCPs refrigerator(s) shall be maintained at a temperature of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

2. The ARCP shall maintain daily temperature logs for all refrigerators and freezers.

3. Food stored in the refrigerator shall be covered, labeled, and dated.

L. The water supply shall be adequate, of a safe sanitary quality and from an approved source. Clean sanitary drinking water shall be available and accessible in adequate amounts at all times.

M. The ice scoop for ice machines shall be maintained in a sanitary manner with the handle at no time coming in contact with the ice.

N. Poisonous and toxic materials shall be appropriately identified, labeled and placed in locked cabinets which are used for no other purpose.

O. Written reports of inspections by OPH shall be kept on file in the ARCP.

P. If meals are provided by a third party service, the ARCP retains the responsibility to ensure that all regulations of this part are met.

Notes

La. Admin. Code tit. 48, § I-6849

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 41:1101 (June 2015), Amended by the Department of Health, Bureau of Health Services Financing, LR 471502 (10/1/2021).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:254 and R.S. 40:2166.1-2166.8.