Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care ...

5.6.2 Social EnvironmentParticipants considered it important that residents had opportunities to participate inrecreational activities. They highlighted the importance of planned provision, varietyand a choice as to whether to participate or not. Participants suggested that recreationalactivities were an important indicator of the quality of the social environment.However, participants reported that it was very hard to meet everybody’s needs,particularly in the larger facilities. Despite recognising its importance, participantsfound financing activities and trips problematic as it was not budgeted for.Activities: comments from focus group participantsWell, I think it’s very important (having activities), it keeps them very motivated –activity, and it keeps their mindset from becoming very … looking inwards. And theylove activity, and they … it cheers them up a lot, I find. (FG2G)And I think a lot of residents probably would find that (boredom is) a problem initiallywhen they go into long-term care, and then they get so used to the fact that there isnothing happening and they sit there all day. I think that needs to be addressed. (FG1G)Activities, they should be led by the residents really, by their needs, or requirements.(FG2D)They all have their own personality and they have different expectations, and youknow, the one that will play a game of cards, the other one never played cards intheir life, and won’t do it. It’s difficult trying to cater for everybody. (FG1G)It’s very difficult to achieve in a residential setting, and you don’t have a budgetfor it either, which is a problem. (FG1D)1055.6.3 Keeping in Touch with Their CommunityParticipants considered it important that older people maintained contact with theircommunity and equally that people from the community were involved in some ofthe activities in the facility. They believed that it was particularly important that theolder person was placed somewhere near their home if they were to retain linkswith their community. Participants also highlighted the importance of volunteersalthough they made no reference as to whether volunteers should come from youngeror older age groups. They were somebody different, somebody residents couldchat to and helped to retain a link with the community. Some participants reportedthat it was difficult to recruit volunteers and that there were issues over insuranceunder the present Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS). A further suggestion was thatconsideration should be given to integrating day care centres into long-stay facilitiesas this would increase the potential of residents to retain their local links.