Often, finding an appropriate nursing home for a loved one is only half of the battle. Once you have found an assisted care facility or nursing home that fits your needs and price point, more interpersonal problems start to appear. For example, it is not unusual for a new nursing home resident to produce a litany of complaints.
If you have a loved one in a nursing home or assisted care facility, it is natural for you to have concerns about their well-being. However, many common complaints relate directly to the adjustment process of life in a group home. According to the AARP, common complaints from new nursing home residents include roommate conflicts and food issues.
What can I do to help with roommate issues?
If the nursing home is reputable, they will make every effort to provide roommate swaps on request. However, often the issue is your loved one adjusting to having a roommate. Particularly if your loved one has lived alone for several years prior to moving into the nursing home, sharing space might be difficult.
You may wish to encourage your loved one to give his or her new roommate a chance. The only other option is to pay more money for a single dwelling.
What can I do to help with food issues?
Even if the food the nursing home provides is nutritionally complete and well-cooked, this can also be a major adjustment. Particularly if your loved one likes to eat certain ethnic cuisines and spices, the food a nursing home provides is likely not going to compare.
A good solution is to visit your loved one at meals. Often, it is not just the quality of the food but rather the company.
