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

stay units also allow ambulant, mentally alert residents to leave the facilityunaccompanied. All facilities had visits from the clergy and the vast majority alsohad oratory facilities. Access to a private phone was best in private nursing homesand voluntary homes and worst in public geriatric facilities. Only 7 per cent ofdistrict/community hospitals offered residents the facility to lock away possessions.Voluntary homes performed best in this area with 70 per cent of units offeringresidents the facility to lock their own cupboard or drawer. Provision for marriedcouples was variable ranging from just over 10 per cent in welfare homes to 70 percent in private nursing homes.Figure 6.9: Process and organisational issues by facility typeOratoryClergy visitsPrivate phoneComplaints procedureResidents’ committee0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%All facilities (n = 315) Private nursing homes (n = 199) Public homes/hospitals (n = 38)Voluntary homes/hospitals (n = 33) District/Community hospitals (n = 31) Welfare homes (n = 14)133Residents allowed to leavethe facility unaccompaniedProvision for married couplesFacility for locking awayprivate possessions0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%All facilities (n = 319) Private nursing homes (n = 202) Public homes/hospitals (n = 38)Voluntary homes/hospitals (n = 34) District/Community hospitals (n = 31) Welfare homes (n = 14)