With so many stories of abuse in nursing homes circulating in the media, it is natural for you to have concerns if your mother is residing in one. It is likely that you went through a very extensive selection process to find an assisted living situation that is affordable for your family and hopefully offers the amenities that your mother needs to be comfortable.
Hearing complaints from your mother after all of this due diligence may be alarming. However, there are certain steps you can take as a caregiver to manage your mother’s nursing home complaints. According to the AARP, common nursing home complaints involve roommate conflicts and food issues.
Roommates
It is possible that due to cost considerations, your mother is sharing a room with a stranger for the first time in potentially decades. If there is a serious roommate conflict, a reputable nursing home will try to facilitate a roommate swap.
However, it is also possible that your mother simply is not used to sharing personal space. If this is the case, it is likely there will be a period of adjustment no matter who the roommate is.
Food
Of course, you want to ensure that the food the nursing home serves is nutritious and reasonably tasty. However, there is the chance that no matter how good the food is at the nursing home, it will not hold up to your mother’s exacting standards.
Keep in mind that it may be that your mother misses the company of family more than she cares about the food. Visiting the nursing home frequently for meals not only allows you to keep an eye on the quality of the food, but it can also help your mother adjust.