Belle Maison Nursing: Missing Feeding Care Plans - LA
Belle Maison Nursing & Rehabilitation Center failed to document feeding assistance interventions for the resident, despite every staff member knowing he required total help with all meals, federal inspectors found during a September complaint investigation.
The resident was admitted with multiple diagnoses including stroke complications, dysphagia, muscle weakness, and tremor that left him needing assistance with personal care. His medical record showed he suffered from hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy alongside his other conditions.
During an 8:32 a.m. observation on September 3, inspectors watched a certified nursing assistant feed the resident breakfast. His arms rested motionless on the bed while the aide delivered food and liquids directly to his mouth. The resident provided no assistance to the process.
Three minutes later, the nursing assistant confirmed what inspectors had witnessed. The resident was completely dependent on staff for all meals, she told them.
A licensed practical nurse interviewed 10 minutes after that gave the same account. The resident needed staff to feed him breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The next day brought identical confirmations. Another nursing assistant stated the resident required feeding assistance for every meal. A second LPN agreed. An occupational therapist who had worked with the resident confirmed his total dependence on staff for nutrition.
Yet none of this daily reality appeared in his care plan.
The care coordinator responsible for the resident's comprehensive person-centered care plan acknowledged the glaring omission when inspectors questioned her on September 4. The resident had no feeding assistance interventions documented anywhere, she confirmed. He should have had them.
The director of nursing agreed. Residents requiring feeding assistance should have comprehensive care plans reflecting individualized feeding interventions, she told inspectors. The plans ensure residents receive proper care and support.
Without documented interventions, the resident lacked specific guidance for staff on how to safely provide his feeding assistance. His dysphagia, a swallowing disorder common after strokes, creates risks for aspiration pneumonia if food or liquids enter the lungs instead of the stomach. His muscle weakness and tremor required particular positioning and pacing strategies.
The care plan serves as the roadmap for consistent, safe care across all shifts and staff members. It should detail the resident's specific needs, the type of assistance required, positioning requirements, food texture modifications, and monitoring protocols.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to develop comprehensive person-centered care plans that address all resident needs with measurable actions and timetables. The plans must be individualized and updated as conditions change.
For this resident, the facility's failure meant months of feeding assistance provided without proper documentation or standardized protocols. While staff clearly understood his needs through daily care, the absence of written interventions left gaps in his protection.
The resident's combination of conditions created particular vulnerabilities. Stroke complications often affect swallowing coordination and motor control. Dysphagia increases choking and aspiration risks. Muscle weakness and tremor can affect positioning and the ability to communicate distress.
Each meal represented a potential safety concern without proper care plan guidance. Staff rotation, new employees, and substitute workers all relied on informal knowledge rather than documented protocols specific to his medical needs.
The care coordinator's admission revealed a fundamental breakdown in the facility's care planning process. Despite universal staff awareness of the resident's feeding dependence, the formal system designed to protect him had failed completely.
The occupational therapist's involvement suggested the resident had received professional evaluation for his feeding needs. Yet even therapeutic assessment hadn't translated into care plan documentation.
Inspectors found the violation affected few residents but created potential for actual harm. The facility received a minimal harm citation, indicating the deficiency was identified before serious injury occurred.
The resident remained dependent on staff memory and informal communication rather than the systematic protections federal law requires. His stroke-related disabilities demanded careful, consistent feeding assistance that only proper care planning could ensure across all caregivers and situations.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Belle Maison Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, LLC from 2025-09-04 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
Belle Maison Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, LLC in HAMMOND, LA was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 4, 2025.
His medical record showed he suffered from hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy alongside his other conditions.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.