Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Resident complaints about the nursing home food service: relationship to cognitive status
Sandra F Simmons1, Patrick Cleeton, Tracy Porchak
1Division of General Internal Medicine and Public Health, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37232-2400, USA. sandra.simmons@vanderbilt.edu
Abstract:
Most nursing home (NH) residents are not interviewed about their satisfaction with the food service due to cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of NH residents able to complete a structured interview to assess food complaints when no cognitive status criteria were used to exclude residents from interview. Eighty-nine percent of 163 residents were able and willing to complete the interview, and 65% expressed complaints about the NH food service. Residents who expressed complaints ate less of their meals, had less cognitive impairment, and had more depressive symptoms than those who did not. This study shows that the majority of NH residents are able to reliably answer questions about their satisfaction with the food service, regardless of cognitive status, and the presence of complaints is related to poor meal intake and depressive symptoms.
Related Concept Videos
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing process.
Taste Buds and Receptors
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
Dementia
The progression of dementia is generally gradual.
Cognitive Development During Adulthood