My sister is in a nursing home and there is one other person in the room. She was told a couple years ago that when a resident is eating that the other person cannot have their Depends change. A new aide came in the room while my sister was eating and proceded to change the Depend for her roommate. My sister complained to the aide and said she never heard of such a thing and said that the curtain was closed. My sister told her the curtain has nothing to do with it. The aide went and got one of the social workers (the social worker is new to the staff) who argued with my sister about it and told the aide to ignore my sister. This really angered my sister. I know if I was eating I wouldn't want the smell. Is there some type of law for hygiene or something that I can come back to them on? I want to write to the administrator about it. Your help is appreciated! Sandi

My elderly mother is in a nursing home, therapy wing.
Tempory stay (she hopes) due to surgery after a badly broken upper leg. The bone surgen says she will be there a minimum of 4 months before she can get out of the wheel chair.

She is in a private room but has to use the diapers.
She cannot put any weight on that leg at all right now and is even moved from the bed to a wheel chair type bed via the use of a hoist/sling.
She has pressure sores (bed sores) on her rear from never being off it.

The wet diaper turns these sores into a huge problem.
Therefore the health rule, in her case, according to orders from her Wound Specialist, is that the diaper MUST be changed at least every 2 hours. Infections from these type sores can easily bcome life threatening so it's imparative they receive high attention.
If your sister's room mate has any sort of diaper rash, especially sensitive skin or pressure sores they will definatly be changeing that diaper at regular intervals, no matter how much complaining happens.

TRUE, the smell of diaper changeing can get unpleasant to say the least. But the smell itself will not cause any bad health to your sister. The curtin is simply for privacy.

Also one don't have to eat in a room. Where Mother is they have a dining room and they really want the tenants to go or be taken there for eating every meal. The resident/patient has the option of staying in the room, but every effort is made to get them to join the other residents in the dining room.

Perhaps your sister could inquire if she could eat in a dining area rather than her shared room.