There are many misconceptions about life in a nursing home and the care provided. As someone that has fully researched and then produced a consumer based DVD program on the various caregiving options for folks (more at www.ChoicesforCare.com), I wanted to give you some insights into one of our nation’s leading caregiving choices.
Misconception #1: Nursing home staff provides one-on-one 24/7 care. If you see such a thing advertised it’s not correct. Mind you the nursing home saying as much isn’t intentionally trying to mislead you; it’s more of not properly explaining what the caregiving support is and is not. Yes there’s 24 hour nursing home staff coverage so there is trained staff members on duty at all hours of the day. However, there won’t be a nurse by your loved one’s bedside at his or her beckon call. Nursing home staff levels are not on a par with a hospital, for example. Yes nursing home staff will do its reasonable best however a resident doesn’t receive personal 24/7 care.
Misconception #2: The food is terrible. Actually quite the opposite is usually the case. Is it equal with the best five-star restaurant in Cleveland? No however most local eating establishments aren’t. Still the food can be quite tasty, and not the gruel that often is part of fairy tales. What gives nursing home food a bad rap is that if a resident, for example, is on a low salt/low seasoning diet as prescribed by his or her physician then the food may taste bland. You see it’s the resident’s physician that dictates how a resident’s meal will taste depending on any dietary restrictions, not because the facility’s dietary staff is fast-food restaurant dropouts.
Misconception #3: All of your mother’s (or father’s or husband’s or wife’s) problems are now solved because she’s (or he’s) in the nursing home. Sadly, this may not be the case, though nursing home staff will do its reasonable best to make a resident’s stay as comfortable as possible. There’s one thing however that even the finest of caregivers can’t prevent: it’s called the aging process. As you know, most nursing home residents are elderly. And as we age, one fact of life is paramount- the process of getting older doesn’t slow down. Sometimes, in fact, it accelerates. Accordingly, unless a person checks into a nursing home to undergo rehabilitation therapy and leaves after a successful conclusion, most residents may very well spend the rest of their days in the nursing facility.
Misconception #4: Nursing homes are dreary places. You might think because of my previous “misconception” that a nursing home is a depressing place. Quite the contrary and I’ve been in a number of them. Nursing home staff (especially the good facilities I’ve experienced) go out of their way to bring sunshine into the building. Nursing homes employees work hard at putting together a consistent schedule of fun activities for its residents to take part in, if they so desire and are able. I’ve seen everything from Elvis impersonators to “King and Queen” of the facility contests. Staff members are among the most dedicated of healthcare professionals I know and are to be commended for the work they do.
Misconception #5: Nursing homes are poorly regulated; they must be because all I ever hear and read in the way of nursing homes news is when something bad occurs. Fact is nursing homes are among our nation’s most regulated industries. Want to guess how much so? Number one on the regulatory scale is the nuclear power industry; number two is the nursing home industry. If you don’t believe me, do some research and you’ll find out. Sure there are some bad apples in the nursing home profession, and when an incident occurs, it can make the news. Then again, if you think about it, I’ve read and seen negative news reports on any number of people and their professions/industries. Do we wish it not so? Of course! That said, 99% of those working in nursing homes are dedicated individuals who are making a positive difference in the lives of the residents and families they serve.
