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Chapter 5 Findings
“A male resident is going out with the Brothers of Charity and the
laundry staff member makes sure he has a warm coat on him before
he goes. ‘Fine coat for the weather and the ducks’.”
(General Observation)
Staff participants described the lack of activity for the residents and the
observations revealed an environment low in activity and stimulation:
“I wouldn’t like to be in here you know.....looking at the four walls
and up at the ceiling.”
(H01)
“I think that there should be more activities – more activities that
they want. I know we have a certain amount of activities but I think
there isn’t enough activities because sometimes the residents are
just sitting there in the day room.”
(S14)
“The residents in the wards are not communicating with each other.
The highly dependent residents are back in bed and are not being
provided with an alternative past-time or being stimulated in any
way. There is a TV on but it doesn’t look like anyone is actually
watching it.”
(Obs – Day 2)
“It is 09.30hrs. The TV is on in the day room and one man is
watching it, there is another man reading a magazine and he is
sitting in a wheelchair at the table. There is also a lady sitting in a
big chair faced looking out the window.”
(Obs – Day 2)
One resident confirmed this lack of stimulation:
“It’s more or less the same day after day.”
(R06) (Barthel 4)
However, a music session was observed on day two of the observations:
“Two musicians (one male and one female) have arrived to the day
room and they visit every Thursday. The nurses are gathering up as
many residents as possible to participate. Residents have shakers,
tambourines and other various musical instruments. There is a
lively atmosphere. One lady is singing and dancing and appears to
be enjoying every minute of it. This same lady stayed at her bedside
at the bottom of the ward all day yesterday. The residents seem to
interact well with the musicians. They play around with the
instruments first and then they start singing.”
(Obs – Day 2: 13.30-15.30hrs)