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Resident participants described relying on staff:
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Chapter 5 Findings
“Well, you see, the way it is with me is that I have to be helped out
of bed and I have to be helped into bed. That’s something I have to
depend on the staff. …usually they’re very good, very good but
then there’s so many they might be way up the top they mightn’t
see me.”
(R02) (Barthel 16)
One resident participant was adamant that they would remain independent:
“No, no. I do it all myself because opposite me in the toilet there’s a
wash basin and I turn it on while I’m undressing and the water will
be warm by then so I’ll give myself a good wash then and the
occasional time then I’ll get a shower, you know in between.”
(R04) (Barthel 12)
It was also revealed that capacity was not always determined by what a resident
actually could or could not do, but by staff facilitation and encouragement for
them to maintain their actual capacity. Sometimes residents just wanted a small
bit of help and did not want to be fully dependent on staff.
While some resident participants only wanted a small bit of help or assistance,
the majority of staff and resident participants talked about how staff take control
of the daily activity:
“I mean automatically it’s just done for them.”
(H02)
“We just washed her and dressed her and sat her out in the chair
ready for the physio.”
(H02) (Barthel 8)
A nurse participant recognised the dilemma of encouraging residents to do things
for themselves by not taking control:
“And I’m thinking the easy option is to go up and give it to him but
I left it and I kept watching him and he drank half the cup himself.”
(S02)