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

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

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176Ways <strong>of</strong> cop<strong>in</strong>gThere are days I decide I’m not gett<strong>in</strong>g up.She comes around and asks me ‘are yougett<strong>in</strong>g up today?’. No. A simple answerlike that. No.Int: So when you say no is that a problem?No, it’s not a problem with me.Int: You just stay there and that’s it?I just stay put and that’s it. And, and to be,to be honest about it … I defy anyone to moveme when I make up my m<strong>in</strong>d.Int: And do you know the staff? Do you knowtheir names?I don’t know the staff. One th<strong>in</strong>g I don’t do,I don’t <strong>in</strong>quire about the staff’s names oranyth<strong>in</strong>g like that because I don’t like to get<strong>in</strong>volved where any <strong>of</strong> the staff are concerned.Int: Why is that?Well, I have a tw<strong>of</strong>old purpose you know; youbecome immune to anyth<strong>in</strong>g they might sayaga<strong>in</strong>st you, that would be the same <strong>for</strong>someth<strong>in</strong>g they might say <strong>for</strong> you at the sametime. … It makes you immune to any criticism.Int: Not gett<strong>in</strong>g to know them.Not gett<strong>in</strong>g to know them. (GN2 Resident 10,Public)Int: Each day be<strong>in</strong>g the same,is that bor<strong>in</strong>g?Oh yes, that’s the word, bor<strong>in</strong>g,that’s the word … but I don’t likesay<strong>in</strong>g anyth<strong>in</strong>g because, you’re,if you say anyth<strong>in</strong>g you’re <strong>in</strong> thebad books altogether.Int: Would you?I’d say that I wouldn’t.Int: What would happen if youwere <strong>in</strong> the bad books?Oh, I don’t know, they, they ignoreyou and everyth<strong>in</strong>g else, isolateyou and everyth<strong>in</strong>g.Int: Do they?Ah they would, they would,so I say noth<strong>in</strong>g.Int: So that’s your policy,say noth<strong>in</strong>g?That’s it now. I seen it a couple<strong>of</strong> occasions with others, and it’s,I don’t like it. I’ve noth<strong>in</strong>g to sayabout the nurses and that, costhey’re alright, but it’s em, it’s nota nice place to be <strong>in</strong>, and that’sto tell you the truth. (GN2 Resident09, Public)The difference between facilities centred on whether residents felt empoweredor powerless <strong>in</strong> the system. Some facilities empowered resident respondentsby mak<strong>in</strong>g them feel ‘<strong>in</strong> charge’, while others made resident respondents feelpowerless and vulnerable. The ability to make respondents feel empowered relatedto how well staff knew residents as <strong>in</strong>dividuals and showed <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> them aspeople. Some respondents reported that staff spent time gett<strong>in</strong>g to know them andwere will<strong>in</strong>g to meet their <strong>in</strong>dividual needs. This was more evident <strong>in</strong> the smallerfacilities than the larger, older facilities. Staff attitude to residents was also a factor;<strong>for</strong> example, view<strong>in</strong>g residents as patients may result <strong>in</strong> a focus on physical ratherthan emotional care. This may be the legacy <strong>of</strong> the experience <strong>of</strong> some staffwork<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a general hospital. Focus group participants considered a move awayfrom this orientation to be key to good quality <strong>of</strong> life <strong>for</strong> residents.<strong>Improv<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>Quality</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Life</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Older</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Long</strong>-<strong>Stay</strong> <strong>Care</strong> Sett<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> Ireland

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