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Chapter 5 Findings
Meal times have the potential to be a sociable and enjoyable activity. One nurse
participant recognised this. The observations revealed that many meals are eaten
at residents’ bedsides. It is another task for staff to do the “feeds” as many of the
residents need assistance with their meals:
“Because in years gone by we used to set up tables down there and
bring in, say, a husband or a wife and light candles and have it real
romantic on Sundays or for birthdays or different occasions and that
was down the bottom and it was lovely. You see we lost all this
space.”
(S14)
“Most residents are having their dinner at their bedside or in bed.”
(Obs – Day 1)
However, one resident participant stated that they like eating on their
own:
“I’d sooner have my dinner or tea on my own because of the
sickness of some of the patients.”
(R06) (Barthel 4)
Very often staff ideas about what residents might want or wish for are
very different from residents’ ideas:
“So he was never a very social…. He’s by the window, he loves nature,
looking at the trees and looking at the rabbits and they grow potatoes
outside his window…. They were doing a gardening thing and he was a
farmer so he grew some peas and everything and watched them grow.”
(F04) (Barthel 2)
“You know they used to love a game of cards you know it’s just the
little thingstha.t”
(H02)
“The day room is not my scene – if it’s a nice day I go out in the
sun.”
(R01) (Barthel 13)
“Well, if I was at home, I would be doing things around the house. I
was a tradesman, that’s it….. Well I would say the more items that
the patients can do. If it was laid out in a rota the patients could do
something.”
(R06) (Barthel 4)
“He loves the golden moments.”
(F04)