Nursing home negligence is very common across the United States. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, it is important to stay vigilant. However, it is also not uncommon for your loved one to experience a period of transition when moving into a nursing home.
As your loved one’s caregiver, you need to be able to differentiate between actual neglect and adjustment pains. According to the AARP, common complaints that nursing home residents have relate to lost items, food issues, and roommate conflicts.
Is somebody stealing from my mother?
Financial abuse of elders is frighteningly common, but if your mother is complaining that her glasses or hearing aids have gone missing it does not necessarily implicate a thief. Make sure that you have insurance on any valuable items and try to cultivate a relationship with staff at the nursing home.
Often, small items get accidentally swept up during regular cleanings or bundled in with the laundry. Frequent communication with staff can often solve these issues.
What about bad food and roommates?
Even if the food at the nursing home is completely adequate and nutritious, it may never live up to your mother’s standards. Additionally, many seniors complain about the food at nursing homes, but what they are actually complaining about is eating alone. Family visits at mealtimes can help with this.
Reputable nursing homes will try to accommodate roommate requests if necessary. However, often your loved one simply needs time to adjust to having a roommate. While roommate swaps are possible, having a single room often is not without extra expense.
