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

Table 9.5: Freedom and constraintsA feeling of freedomMealtimes are fixed, butotherwise I’m a free agentand that appeals to me like. …There’s a sense of freedom orsomething. There’s no rules, likeyou get your meals and that sortof stuff, but I can go out for awalk. I mean you can come andgo. (YW3 Resident 10, Private)It is just right, I couldn’t fault,unless I told a lie, I couldn’t findfault with, if I want somethingdone, I find them perfect really.Because if I want somethingdone they’ll get it done for me,and there’s an atmosphere ofhome about it. That you don’tfeel you’re in a strange place atall. (YW3 Resident 11, Private)Feeling constrainedAh sure, you’d have to get out, you couldn’tbe stuck in here the whole time.Int: Why?Oh God, you wouldn’t, never stick it. You mightas well be in Mountjoy.Int: And why is it like Mountjoy?Well, I mean to say, you’re confined. … That’swhy I call it, I mean, you’re confined here andyou’re not one of the people or anything, you’renot mixing with people or anything like that. Youonly see the patients here, and the nurses andwhatever men is here. (GN2 Resident 09, Public)It’s just that it’s like a school. It’s very, how shall Isay, regimented, you know. You do a thing now ifit’s handy for the hospital to do but if you want acup of tea you couldn’t get it. … In a democracyyou have to do the best for everyone you know.(GN1 Resident 01, Public)Knowing the individual the priorityThey understand a lot about me. … And then aswe grew, as (the Director) and I grew togethershe understood me. … There are things thatyou don’t do, naturally, and there are things thatyou can; she’s very broadminded. So it took awhile to settle in but it was a matter of gettingused to. … It was a matter of getting used toknow, them to know me. (YW3 Resident 03,Private)Knowing the individualnot a priorityInt: Do you feel that they knowyou, your likes and your dislikes,the staff here. Would they knowyou well?I don’t know about well butthey know your dislikes andyour individual, they might, I meanthey generally know that so andso doesn’t like too much cream.They know generally but you’dhave to remind them.(LCI Resident 10, Private)Some choices are not allowed ifthey (can) avoid it. … They avoidchanging the routine. (Relative)175