Taking up the role of a family caregiver in a nursing home changes your responsibilities. By checking up and making sure their quality is met, you go from monitoring daily details to simply ensuring that they are being met.
It is often difficult to tell whether nursing home complaint is legitimate or not – some are just talk. Follow these five rules to help fix these problems:
1. Research first before you complain.
Generally, complaining about something can be resolved fairly easily. The three most common ones are:
- Lost items. Make sure your insurance covers loss. Oftentimes, hearing aids and other devices get tangled in your sheets in the hamper with your laundry.
- Roommate conflicts. It is important to know that nursing homes will do their best to resolve roommate issues, but the process may take time. If the facility does not have private suites available for purchase, there may be a period of adjustment between roommates before things improve
- Food issues. The food in nursing homes doesn't always live up to the standards of our parents. When people age, their sense of taste diminishes, so they don't even enjoy well-prepared food. Watch for any signs that your loved one is malnourished: Ask the nursing home staff whether she can bring in her preferred dishes when visiting and make sure they are safe according to medical requirements and restrictions (no choking hazards). Wait until mealtimes if you can; it might be less upsetting than watching family members enjoy themselves while she sits alone with nothing but some dry bread!
2. Establish good relationships with the nursing aides.
The aide will be more likely to find and track a single missing pair if they know to look for hearing aids when changing your loved one's bed. Knowing each person who helps provide care will allow you to better collaborate with them so that everyone (including yourself) will benefit from the experience. Appreciate the hardworking people in your life; even if you don't recognize their accent or other characteristics, their main duty is to help others.
3. Volunteer at the nursing home.
Although it can be difficult to find time for socializing, family members of residents in care facilities often feel guilty for not being able to spend enough quality time with their loved ones. By visiting even when there aren't a lot of spare moments on our hands, visitors like you remind them how much people value them! If nothing else, make yourself a welcoming presence who is always catching up with others at different times during the day so everyone feels welcomed. Those who live nearby will probably visit regularly, but if not, now might just be a good time to explore new friendships through creative activities and make memories.
4. Attend important meetings.
Families deserve to be cared for by professionals who are invested in their well-being. Sign up for a staff review and meet with them once a year or three times a year to get the most out of their care. If necessary changes arise during the meeting, let management know you will be present because it is important if you can attend. If there seems to be an emergency situation at any time, raise your concerns immediately, but do not forget what your caregivers have already told you! When they give you feedback about how things could be improved for your family parent, pay attention when they do spend more quality time than anybody else on site.
5. Identify and report serious lapses in care.
Although visiting a family member can be jarring, it is also an opportunity for you to ensure that they are receiving the best care possible. Similarly, if they've lost weight or their personal hygiene habits have changed, this could be a sign that something is not right with how they're being cared for.
It is important to discuss any difficulties you are experiencing with nurses and doctors in order to ensure your loved one's care is of the highest quality. For seniors who experience physical, sexual, or verbal abuse in a nursing home or have witnessed abuse, contact an ombudsman trained in resolving these issues.
