5 Most Common Complaints about Nursing Homes

Nursing facilities are meant to be homes where seniors can live and have their physical, emotional, and social needs cared for.

Sadly, nursing home residents do not always receive the care they need and deserve. When staff members are undertrained, overworked, or negligent, elderly residents may suffer neglect or abuse.

Substandard care can have a detrimental effect on vulnerable elderly residents, perhaps including your own family members. This article will discuss some of the most common complaints residents and their families have about nursing homes throughout the US.

5 Common Nursing Home Complaints

Nursing home staff have an obligation to provide elderly and disabled residents with quality care. Administrators should be aware of the nursing home's residents' needs and ensure that qualified staff and adequate supplies are available to care for everyone.

Slow response times

The most common complaint is that nursing home staff are slow to respond to the needs of the residents in their care. Residents may be left in bed despite repeatedly pushing their call buttons, left in the dining hall for an extended length of time after meals, or ignored when placing a call for help.

A nurse may take an unreasonably long time to respond to a call for assistance or fail to respond. This can leave residents feeling that their calls for help are not prioritized.

It's truly sad when calls for assistance go unmet. This detracts from the dignity and respect owed to the residents and can be detrimental to a person’s mental well-being, possibly causing health complications.

Slow response times can put residents at risk for:

• Bedsores
• Falling (from attempting to get up or move on their own)
• Poor hygiene
• Depression

The most common reason for slow response times is understaffing. However, there is never a good excuse for poor patient care. If you notice your loved one is suffering due to slow response times, take immediate action to address the matter with a nursing home administrator.

Poor quality food

Another common complaint about nursing homes is regarding food quality. While it can understandably be challenging to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs and preferences, nursing homes have an obligation to provide residents with nutritious and well-prepared meals.

The following are some common complaints about the food in nursing homes:

• Lacking vitamins and nutrients
• Containing too many processed ingredients
• Failing to meet allergy or dietary restrictions
• Lacking fresh fruits and vegetables
• Tasting bland or being improperly seasoned
• Offering little to no variety

Meals should be an enjoyable experience for the residents. Interestingly, one scientific study showed a link between the quality of life in nursing home residents and better food. Ideally, if in good mental health, residents should have a say in what they eat, what their serving portions are, and who they choose to eat with.

Poor quality food can devastate an elderly person’s health. Failure to meet dietary needs could result in an aversion to food, malnutrition, dehydration, and serious health problems that accompany these issues.

Lack of social interaction

Another common complaint from residents of nursing homes is that they feel isolated and alone. In fact, those who conducted another research study found that over half of all nursing home residents without cognitive impairment reported feeling lonely.

When a nursing facility is understaffed, caregivers and nurses do not have sufficient time for meaningful and prolonged social interactions with residents. Friendships with other residents in the nursing home can help alleviate feelings of loneliness. However, it can be challenging for senior citizens to develop and maintain friendships with fellow residents who may come and go, depending on their care requirements.

Prolonged feelings of loneliness and isolation can have devastating consequences, such as:

• Depression and anxiety
• High blood pressure
• Suicidal thoughts
• Progression of dementia or Alzheimer's
• Obesity
• Alcoholism
• Mortality

If your loved one is suffering from social isolation when you are not there, try to encourage him or her to try new hobbies and participate in group activities. You should also be sure to express your concerns to the nurses and other staff who care for your loved one.

Another Common Nursing Home Complaint: Sleep Disruption

Sleep disruptions are another common complaint among nursing home residents. The need for quality sleep is crucial at any age, but it is especially important for the elderly. Seniors tend to fall asleep earlier, wake up earlier, and have more difficulty sleeping than younger people.

Some reasons for nursing home sleep disruptions include:

• Nursing home staff talking loudly
• Noise from monitors and other equipment
• Alarms
• Caregivers checking vital signs and dispensing medication
• Interruption from roommates talking or watching TV
• Difficulty adjusting to a new sleeping environment

Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that has been linked to several medical conditions. If your loved one is complaining of regular sleep disruptions, these concerns should be addressed by the nursing home administration. For example, some issues can easily be addressed by reminding staff members to speak more quietly at night.

Nursing Home Complaints May Be a Sign of Neglect or Abuse

If you notice undisclosed injuries or your loved one's health rapidly deteriorating, these could be warning signs of abuse or neglect.

Nursing home abuse can take various forms, such as:

• Physical abuse: Hitting, punching, slapping, force-feeding, and improperly restraining are all types of physical elder abuse
• Emotional abuse: This type of abuse could include name-calling, intimidation, isolation, scapegoating, talking to the patient like a child, insulting, and more
• Sexual abuse: Any form of unwanted romantic or sexual conduct displayed toward a nursing home resident is considered to be sexual abuse
• Financial abuse: Examples of financial exploitation are stealing cash or valuables, opening a credit card under a resident's name, coercing a senior to change his will, or forging a signature on a check