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Potlucks (cont’d)
In fact, in May of 2009, CMS came out with a clarification regarding residents’ right to eat food brought in by visitors. The guidance for Tag F371 had stated:
Unsafe food sources: Nursing homes are not permitted to use home-prepared or home- preserved (e.g. canned, pickled) food for service to residents.
CMS received a barrage of questions regarding this statement leading them to issue this further clarification:
Note: The food procurement requirements are not intended to restrict resident choice. All residents have the right to accept food brought to the facility from any visitor(s) for any resident.
When considering potlucks let this CMS guidance be your guide. Residents have the right to choose potluck food. The facility is still also held to providing three meals a day from approved food sources but this guidance makes it possible for residents to have a choice from both.
We also suggest carefully thinking through good infection control practices such as making sure cold foods remain cold and hot foods remain hot. As a team, develop some good guidance for everyone to follow regarding the making of dishes at home; transporting, storage prior to, and then care for them during the potluck. You will merely be extending your already tight infection control systems to cover the choices offered in potluck.
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