As our loved ones age, it becomes increasingly difficult to understand how to manage and look after them. 

The older you get, the more stubborn you become. Hence the reason thousands of geriatrics enter nursing homes is that they simply can’t cope anywhere else. 

Even if friends and family members do have accommodation, the individual is likely to refuse and choose to live alone most of the time. 

Though nursing homes provide the relief we need and give shelter to our elderly loved ones, they too have their fair share of issues. 

Running a nursing home is extremely stressful. Other than the fact that you deal with a relatively difficult bunch of people, compliance standards, ethical standards, and general protocols make things extremely difficult. 

This article will talk about some of the common problems nursing homes face. This article does not aim to slander any organization but rather bring to light some common issues that arise for all the relevant stakeholders. 

1. Negligence 

It is important to understand that malicious/negligent individuals can be everywhere, even in a care facility. 

No matter how hard the management tries to sift them out, bad eggs are everywhere. Moreover, these individuals then run a bad name for the organization. 


Disgruntled employees could fail to take care of the patients, abuse them and eventually lead to the demise of some patients. 

It just so happens that nursing home wrongful death cases have skyrocketed, creating a negative yet arguably justified image of these care facilities, and we all know how sticky labels can be. 

Yes, they are outliers, but the fact is, they do exist, and it would be foolish to deny the issue. Most care facilities striveto administer better hiring protocols to ensure that issues like this never happen again. 

However, studies such as Rosenhans suggest that cases of malice and negligence are considerably higher in in-patient facilities. Psych facilities, nursing homes, and rehab centers have increased chances of abuse. 

2. Understaffing

When running a care facility like a nursing home, ensuring enough staff per patient is extremely difficult. 

Most nurses and doctors prefer a traditional hospital setting or private practice rather than shifting their attention to a nursing home.

This leaves the facility with a constant understaffing issue. Larger nursing homes may occasionally opt for job drives at the local nursing school; however, hiring nurses with very little or no experience. While there is no shortage of careers for highly educated nurses, it is their high demand that makes them hard to hold on to.

Staying on top of the ball as far as talent is concerned is extremely challenging. It is hard to find staff in the first place, but facilities like these often have high attrition rates because nurses and doctors are usually fairly mobile. 

3. Keeping the patients entertained

Most of the patients get bored and irritated after a while. Therefore, keeping them happy and occupied is another challenge that is extremely hard to tackle. 

Coupled with the isolation protocols due to COVID-19, the residents often get extremely irritated and hostile when forced to stay inside. 

Keeping them entertained is stressful because the staff has to come up with new ideas, and it can also cost the facility extra. 

For example, installing new TVs, conducting group activities, and investing in things that could keep the residents occupied can cost money. 

Moreover, despite the efforts, many residents still have issues and refuse to participate in the activities that are often specifically designed for them.

4. Compliance 

We live in the 21st century with an ever-changing environment. Therefore, changes in policy, standards, and rules often make it hard for nursing homes to cope with the changes. 

Nursing homes still fall under a governing body that issues rules and regulations. If these facilities fail to comply with the standards, their licenses are revoked, and the entire facility is sealed.

Compliance with governing bodies is one thing, but the legal framework established for such entities is extremely stressful.  

Frequent changes can leave the facilities struggling to follow the rules. Moreover, sometimes these changes mean adjusting how the operation has run for years and decades. 

We are not suggesting that the facilities have been running illegally or unethically; rather, a change in even the most minor policy can have colossal implications for the nursing home. 

5. Demands from loved ones

Understandably, friends and family of the resident want to have more say in how the management runs the place. 

Catering to the family members is one of the hardest parts of managing a nursing home. As if there weren’t enough issues, they began arguing and telling the staff what to do. 

Sure, they may have their opinions, but the fact remains that they aren’t the ones running the place. 
One can understand that they care deeply for their loved ones;however, management is there for a reason. 

If they took everyone’s concerns and adapted their operations to the ever-growing demands, the facility might not run as efficiently as it often does. 

Every facility has its pros and cons; however, making an issue out of everything is not on. Leave suggestions and if you can actively help the management. 

Conclusion

There we have it, some of the common problems nursing homes face. No one can deny that there are drawbacks and positives to care facilities. 

However, with the rise in bad reps, more and more people are staying away from nursing homes. Perhaps this article could give you insight into what goes on in such institutions and why management has such a hard time. 

From dealing with staff negligence to managing the demands of loved ones. Traversing the average day in a nursing home is harder than most people realize. 

Every organization is a growing entity that tries its best to meet stakeholder demands. Some meet the target, and others fall short. Whether you choose a nursing home, you should know what admission entails.