New Jersey Administrative Code › Title 8 - HEALTH › Chapter 36 - STANDARDS FOR LICENSURE OF ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES, COMPREHENSIVE PERSONAL CARE HOMES, AND ASSISTED LIVING PROGRAMS › Subchapter 10 - DINING SERVICES › Section 8:36-10.5 - Requirements for dining services

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 14, July 15, 2024
(a) The facility and
				personnel shall comply with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 8:24, Retail Food
				Establishments and Food and Beverage Vending Machines Chapter XII of the New Jersey
				Sanitary Code.
(b) A current diet manual
				shall be available to the dining service personnel and to the nursing service
				personnel.
(c) Meals shall be planned,
				prepared, and served in accordance with, but not limited to, the following:
1. At least three meals shall be prepared and
				served daily to residents;
2. The
				facility shall select foods and beverages, which include fresh and seasonal foods,
				and shall prepare menus with regard to the nutritional and therapeutic needs,
				cultural backgrounds, food habits, and personal preference of residents;
3. Written, dated menus shall be planned at least
				14 days in advance for all diets. The same menu shall not be used more than once in
				any continuous seven-day period;
4.
				Current menus with portion sizes and any changes in menus shall be posted in the
				food preparation area. Menus shall be posted in a conspicuous place in residents'
				area, and/or a copy of the menu shall be provided to each resident. Any changes or
				substitutes in menus shall be posted or provided in writing to each resident. Menus,
				with changes or substitutes, shall be kept on file in the facility for at least 30
				days;
5. Diets served shall be
				consistent with the diet manual, the dietitian's instructions, and, if applicable
				for special diets, shall be served in accordance with physicians' orders;
6. Nutrients and calories shall be provided for
				each resident, based upon current recommended dining allowances in the Dietary
				Reference Intake Tables of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of
				Sciences, National Research Council, incorporated herein by reference, as amended
				and supplemented, available on the Internet at
https://nationalacademies.org/hmd/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/DRI-Tables.aspx
or by calling (202) 334-2000. These allowances are to be adjusted for age, sex,
				weight, physical activity, and therapeutic needs of the resident, if applicable;
7. Between-meal snacks and beverages
				shall be available at all times for each resident, unless medically contraindicated
				as documented by a physician in the resident's health care plan;
8. Substitute foods and beverages of equivalent
				nutritional value shall be available to all residents;
9. In the case of a resident who has a health care
				plan in which diet is identified as a service, the staff shall observe whether meals
				are refused or missed and shall document this information;
10. All meals shall be served at the proper
				temperature and shall be attractive when served to residents. Place settings and
				condiments shall be appropriate to the meal;
11. Seatings shall be arranged for each meal in
				order to accommodate individual resident's meal-time preferences, in accordance with
				facility policies;
12. In the case of a
				resident who has a health service plan in which diet is identified as a service, a
				record shall be maintained for such resident, identifying the resident by name, diet
				order, if applicable, and other information, such as meal patterns, when on a
				calculated diet and allergies; and
13.
				If the resident is ill, meals shall be served in his or her apartment, as indicated
				in the resident service plan and in accordance with facility policy.