What type of manual must be available to the dining and nursing service personnel?

The dining and nursing service personnel must have access to a diet manual because it specifically provides guidelines on the nutritional needs and dietary restrictions of residents. This manual contains essential information about meal planning, food preparation, and special diets that cater to individual health conditions and preferences. It serves as a critical resource to ensure that the residents receive appropriate and balanced nutrition tailored to their needs, which is a fundamental aspect of care in assisted living facilities.

While health manuals, service manuals, and operations manuals have their own importance, they do not focus specifically on dietary requirements. A health manual may address broader health and wellness issues but is not specialized for the context of dining services. A service manual typically covers procedures and operational instructions for staff, and an operations manual outlines policies for running the facility but does not provide the detailed dietary guidance required in the daily care of residents. Therefore, the diet manual is essential to ensuring that dietary needs are met effectively.