Last updated on June 15th, 2023
Do you own, operate, or work at a senior living community? If so, part of your job undoubtedly involves staying up-to-date on F-tags. These are guidelines monitored by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in your state to ensure your “facility staff support the nutritional well-being of the residents while respecting an individual’s right to make choices about his or her diet.” More information about F-Tags related to a community’s nutrition program is available here.
Because older adults are at risk of having a compromised immune system, taking safety seriously is crucial. The stability of their health depends on living in a comfortable, healthy, and clean environment. Reviewing your F-Tag compliance is a great way to provide this for your residents.
It’s also important to guarantee your safety standards are what they should be. But, while you need to comply with all fifteen Food and Nutrition Services F-tags, you should specifically revisit some as much as possible. Here are three to include in your regular dietary and nutritional safety audits, along with tips on avoiding being out of compliance.
F-812: Food Procurement, Storage, Preparation, and Sanitary Serving
F812 is the most comprehensive F-tag guideline – and one of the most common for facilities to violate. In fact, it was listed as one of the top five deficiencies in nursing homes between 2013-2017. Here’s what auditors will be looking for related to how your facility deals with prepping, storing, and serving food to residents:
- Regular “test tray audits” to see if all food is served at the appropriate temperature
- Storing individual types of raw foods separately, including keeping meat apart from other foods like vegetables or fruits
- Routine labeling and dating of refrigerated foods
- Prompt disposal of expired or out-of-date food
- Cross-contamination prevention procedures like equipment/utensil cleansing (including removable and non-removable parts) and regular sanitation of surfaces
- Documenting that food is cooked to the correct temperature to prevent illness
Another critical part of F812 compliance is adhering to a strict employee hygiene policy. All staff should regularly wash their hands, especially after handling raw food or hazardous chemicals, and wear appropriate protective gear like hairnets and disposable gloves.
Documentation is the best way to keep track of all your policies and procedures on handling food in your facility. Even if it seems minor, having a record of how staff maintains your dietary program’s cleanliness and safety can prevent problems in future audits.
F-813: Personal Food Policy
Monitoring residents’ consumption of personal food can be trickier than overseeing the quality and safety of meals provided by your facility. However, it’s extremely common for residents’ families to bring in meals or for seniors to want their own snacks. Not only does having access to their favorite foods keep them connected to their home, culture, and family, but it also upholds their dignity and independence – allowing them to choose what they consume.
When evaluating your facility for F813 compliance, auditors will be looking to see if:
- Staff use safe handling practices when assisting residents in consuming or accessing food, especially if the older adult is unable to do this themselves
- All family members, visitors, and staff are educated on your facility’s handling practices about things like reheating, storage, holding temperatures, and cross-contamination
- Food from a resident’s family is stored separately from the food provided by the senior living community
Any detail about handling and storing personal food should be detailed in a facility-wide policy that is accessible to everyone in your community. Be open with your residents’ families and regularly check that incoming meals follow the rules. Auditors may review your policies and other parts of your documentation as part of their survey.
F-814: Proper Disposal of Garbage and Refuse
Following sanitation disposal guidelines may seem like a given, but it’s surprisingly easy to fall behind if there isn’t proper oversight. A surveyor or auditor will look for a few things as they evaluate your disposal procedures:
- Well-maintained, sanitary trash receptacles with suitable enclosures
- Clean, debris-free, and odor-free spaces in your facility, like hallways, community gathering areas, the kitchen, and the loading area
To comply with this, all you need to do is ensure that you’re removing waste in a safe manner that doesn’t attract pests or create an unsanitary environment for residents. Both stationary and frequently moved garbage cans should be covered at all times and cleaned regularly. Including these tasks in the cleaning staff’s daily duties is an easy way to maintain hygienic waste disposal.
Encourage Resident Safety and Satisfaction with Our Help
When seniors and their families are looking for a senior living community, one of their top priorities is safety. More often than not, it’s one of the first questions asked during a tour. Food safety also heavily influences resident satisfaction in senior living communities.
Helping you create a safe, clean environment for staff and residents in your community is essential for us at Culinary Services Group. In addition to the delicious food we provide with our dining services, you also have access to our area managers – who are well-versed in the state regulations senior facilities have to follow. So, partnering with us is an investment that helps you provide residents with higher-quality food and also keeps your space inspection ready at all times.
Contact us today to learn more about how we incorporate safety into our programs and how your community can take advantage of our dining packages.
