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

In some facilities, it seemed that the students themselves were expected to findways of helping. These visits were less successful than those where there was astructure in place. It was striking that some of the staff respondents saw volunteersas helpful but of limited use as they could not help with the ‘real’ work. Theyconsidered physical care, for example changing, washing and feeding, as thepriority. This would suggest that some staff respondents put little value oninteracting with clients beyond that which was necessary when giving physicalcare. In contrast, focus group participants viewed keeping residents in touch withtheir community as key to good quality of life. They acknowledged, however, thatthis was an area that had to be ‘worked at’.Table 10.4: Family and community connections196Easy to keep in touchI make all the inquiries about what’shappening, who dies and who lives. Andwhat happens, and who’s getting married.Oh, I keep in touch with everybody!(YW1 Resident 02, Private)Still part of a familyI’m going to a big wedding. My nephew’sdaughter is getting married … so I’m goingto a big do. That’s how I got that perm.… I’ll be looking all the best, all glammedup (laugh). All I want now is a fella (laugh).(PK3 Resident 01, Public)Open visitingI have a lovely dog; at least my son has alovely dog. … Oh, he’s a dote, his name’s(name). … He’s a lovely dog. We’re allvery fond of him, and he’s brought in hereoccasionally. (YW3 Resident 09, Private)Finding it hard to keep in touchYou’re confined here and … you’re notmixing with people or anything likethat. You only see the patients here,and the nurses and whatever men ishere. (My nephew) took me out for anhour, only for him I’d never stick it atall. (GN2 Resident 09, Public)No one belonging to meI am the last of the billy goats. I am allalone in the world. … I have no family.Int: So you are the longest living ofthem all are you?Plenty of bad news. (GN1 Resident 08,Public)Restricted visitingI would like if I was allowed bringmy youngest children in (referring tograndchildren). … Because one is a bitnoisy but like I’ll sit her on my knee andshe’ll stay quiet, but they don’t seemto want that, and I’d like for all thechildren to be together, you know.(YW5 Resident 02, Private)Improving Quality of Life for Older People in Long-Stay Care Settings in Ireland