4 Common Complaints Of Residents In Nursing Home Facilities

The pandemic highlighted many issues within the nursing home industry, as these facilities became a hot spot in the early days of the pandemic and tragically, many elders lost their lives to the virus. However, even before the pandemic there were issues within nursing homes and residents often had many complaints. Unfortunately, those complaints may not subside as we start to move out of the pandemic and return to normal life once again.

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, below are the four biggest complaints residents have had before, during, and likely after the pandemic. It is important to know what these are, as they can be a sign of nursing home abuse or neglect.

Slow Response Time to Calls

Nursing homes typically have in-house calling systems that allow residents to notify staff members when a need arises. Unfortunately, the staff members within nursing homes are under an immense amount of pressure, as they have very heavy workloads. This often results in them not responding to calls right away, leaving residents with unattended needs. Heavy workloads are never an excuse to ignore the needs of patients though, and action can be taken if a call for help went unanswered and resulted in harm to a patient.

Poor Quality of Food

With so many residents in a nursing home, it is nearly impossible to cater to every possible taste preference. Still, nursing homes are responsible for ensuring that they provide nutritious healthy meals to all residents. Nursing home staff members should also ensure they cater to the food needs of residents. For example, if a resident could not swallow properly, staff members should monitor them while they are eating to ensure they do not choke.

A Lack of Social Interaction

Too often, residents within a nursing home begin to feel isolated, particularly when visits from loved ones start to dwindle. Residents may rely on staff members to fill this void but the staff in these facilities are often overworked and do not have the time for social visits residents may want. Still, they should try to ensure that residents take part in facility events where they can interact with other residents, which can reduce the amount of isolation patients feel.

Sleep Disruptions

Sleeping well in a nursing home is not easy. Staff members often have to enter residents’ rooms to check their vital signs, administer medications, or provide other round-the-clock care. While there is little staff members can do to reduce these types of interruptions, there are others they can limit. For example, staff members working the night shift may speak too loudly in halls adjacent to residents’ rooms, which can hinder a patient’s ability to get the rest they need.

Call Our Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer in Tampa Today

Some complaints are common in nursing homes, and they may not all rise to the level of neglect or abuse. However, when a patient suffers harm as a result of not receiving the care they need, it is important to take action. At Kohn Law, our Tampa nursing home abuse lawyer can determine if certain actions constitute abuse or neglect and if so, can help you make things right. Call us today at 813-428-8504 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.