What Nursing Home Residents Need but Often Don’t Get

Finding the right nursing home for a loved senior family member can be challenging. It never is. Families look for a safe place, hoping their elderly (parents, grandparents) will be treated with dignity and respect.

And sure, there are lots of amazing facilities that provide high-quality care, and it’s truly commendable. But there are also facilities where some basic needs are not adequately covered. Some issues in the facility may seem minor at first, but don’t ignore any of them, because they can lead to bigger problems. Health issues, mental health, and even survival are some of the main concerns in some nursing homes.

It’s essential to understand what residents truly need, as well as what they often lack. That way, families can see the problems and make a difference.

The Need for Real Human Connection

Simple human interaction is something every living person needs. 

When someone is isolated from their loved ones and away from home, that need is even bigger. When staff members are overwhelmed with medical tasks, they often lack the time and patience to provide residents with personal attention. That’s when residents may feel very lonely. 

This isolation can:

• Increase the risk of depression.
• Make cognitive decline even worse.
• Take away motivation to eat, exercise, or participate in activities.

If your loved one feels a bit lonely in a nursing home, your family visits, phone calls, or video calls can mean so much to them. 

Facilities must also offer spaces and times when residents are heard and respected, no matter how many jobs they have during the day.

Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Food isn’t just ‘fuel’ for your body; it’s also comfort, health, and culture.

Too many nursing homes don’t make it a priority. Residents might be served food that is unbalanced, repetitive, or rushed. Water intake is another need that falls short, causing avoidable health issues.

What to watch for:

• Huge weight loss or clothes suddenly fitting loose.
• Dry mouth or lips signal dehydration.
• Complaints of hunger or skipped meals.

A nutritious meal, eating support, and attention to accommodate personal preferences are signs that a facility is paying necessary attention to nourishment.

Respect for Comfort and Privacy

There are people who are totally dependent on someone’s care and help, but in nursing homes, there are also people who can still be independent in many things and perform simple tasks. 

They should be encouraged to be independent as much as they can, and that also means giving them their personal space for comfort and privacy. 

But many residents report that, once they’re living here, their privacy sort of ‘disappears’. 

And this mostly has to do with living in a shared room with little room for privacy or staff members rushing in without knocking, and as a consequence, your dignity disappears in a blink.

Respect for privacy includes:

• Knocking before entering a resident’s room.
• Allowing time for private calls or visits with loved ones.
• Humoring individual choices in clothing, habits, or room arrangements.

These minor issues have a profound impact on self-worth and overall well-being.

Beyond Basic Medical Care

Most long-term homes offer only minimal medical care, but there are residents who need more than the minimal check-ups. 

Unrecognized pain, lack of mobility support, or ineffective management of chronic illness are signs that care isn’t good enough. An example: development of untreated bedsores. 

Painful and avoidable with frequent repositioning and monitoring, these sores can become infected and lead to devastating effects if not detected on time and/or addressed. Those who’ve seen such cases of nursing home neglect know firsthand the severity of the impact these errors/mishaps can have. And most are completely avoidable, only if the institutions would raise standards, and abide by these standards (as a minimum).

That’s why awareness of medical mistakes is so critical; all it needs is a few simple checks. What begins as a minor error can become a catastrophe.

Opportunities for Purpose and Happiness

Each day in a nursing home needs to include more than medication and mealtime. Residents have their best opportunities to make the most of life when they are motivated (and engaged). Activity calendars, though, are too frequently repetitive or limited.

In order to sustain residents’ cognitive and emotional stimulation, homes can offer:

• Activities that create social bonds.
• Hobbies related to personal interests, such as music, crafts, or gardening.
• Day trips or visitor outings provide scenery changes.

How Families Can Help Fill the Gaps

Families can be instrumental in ensuring that these needs are satisfied. 

Although you might not be present each day, there are steps to take to support your loved one externally:

1. Visit frequently and change visiting hours so you can get a better idea of care on a day-to-day basis.
2. Talk regularly with caregivers so issues are resolved promptly.
3. Bring reminders of home like pictures, books, or snacks.
4. Ask about the health care plans for health, eating, and activities.

Being involved is going to make staff notice that someone is paying attention. Your loved one isn’t just a room number, and should never be treated like that.

Ensuring Nursing Home Residents get what they Need

Every human being, especially someone who needs special care, deserves more than just the basics.

Seniors need connection, quality food, respect, medical care, and opportunities to feel joy in some creative and thoughtful activities. If you notice that any of these essentials is overlooked, you need to react to prevent serious harm. 

Pay attention to details and react; that is the best way to protect your loved one.