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Chapter 5 Findings
lack of flexibility in the daily routine can impact negatively on resident
autonomy. Some staff explained that resident dependency can impact upon the
level of routine and flexibility. Furthermore, individual staff members may also
determine the routine of the residents’ day and affect the ward atmosphere. The
observations revealed a friendly atmosphere but also routinised practice.
Staff participants recognised that there was a strong sense of routine – some
questioned it but didn’t attempt to change it while others welcomed it:
“The likes of me are like, I’m here on a long day, I’m here until 8
O’clock at night and it doesn’t bother me if people want to stay up
until 7 or 8 O’clock, they can stay up to what time they want to
stay up to you know…….No I think it’s just set the routine that’s
been going on for so long this way.”
(H02)
“I don’t know but it’s just that everyone has to be put back at a
certain time and to be got up at a certain time. It’s just that...”
(H01)
“Yeah, if they don’t fit into our pattern or our timetable…”
(S03)
“Routines are good because…..I can follow it but if there is no
routine everybody is different day ......stuff so it’s when the new
people come I have a look and no need to think ‘what shall I do the
next’, I don’t need to ask....know, every time so it’s ...”
(S05)
There was a sense that there is no real care planning; rather, residents conform to
the impersonal system:
“But they don’t change when they come in here, they adapt.”
(S08)
“Well I don’t give it thought when I know it has to fall in line. I just
go along with it.”
(R06) (Barthel 4)
Resident dependency was considered to be an important element in the
level of flexibility possible in the daily routine:
“I would say that in the last few months with the level of patients it
has changed a lot, it wasn’t as routine. There was more time for the