Background
Methods
Participants
Data source
Data analysis
Results
Gender & code | Age | MMSE score | Diagnosis | Time in facility | Mobility | Main comorbidities | Visitors (frequency of visits) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male R1 | 93 | 17 | AD | 11 months | Assisted transferring & locomotion | Confusion, Angina, Hypertension | Wife (daily); daughter (weekly) |
Female R2 | 96 | 24 | Unspecified dementia | 7 y, 2 m | Supervised transferring & locomotion | Hearing impairment & cataracts | Daughter (weekly) |
Male R3 | 95 | 17 | Unspecified dementia | 1y, 7 m | Assisted transferring & locomotion | Depression, anxiety, deafness & confusion | Son (daily) |
Female R4 | 83 | 22 | VD | 9 m | Assisted transferring & locomotion | Diabetes (Type 2), hypertension, OA, GORD | Daughter (weekly); Son (monthly) |
Female R5 | 86 | 19 | Unspecified | 3y, 8 m | Assisted transferring & supervised locomotion | Depression, Hypertension, Sciatica | Daughter (weekly) |
Female R6 | 105 | 16 | Unspecified | 7y, 1 m | Mechanically assisted transferring & assisted locomotion | Diabetes (unspecified), renal failure, blindness from glaucoma | Daughter (less than monthly) |
Female R7 | 90 | 17 | AD | 11 m | Independent | Paranoid states; OA; Hypertension; Macular degeneration; History of overdose | No visitors (poor relationship with family) |
Female R8 | 86 | 18 | VD | 1y, 4 m | Uses walker, needs assistance | NIDDM; OA; Hypertension; CORD | Son & daughter (weekly); Friends & other relatives |
Female R9 | 81 | 24 | AD & VD | 1y, 5 m | Uses walker, minimal assistance | Back pain; Dizziness; Hypertension; OA | Daughter (2–3 times/week); Son (weekly); Friends occasionally |
Male R10 | 73 | 22 | AD | 2y, 9 m | Recent fall – requires assistance | Falls; depression; Stress incontinence; NIDDM | Wife (weekly); daughter, son, sister, grandchildren (fortnightly) |
Female R11 | 93 | 22 | AD | 5y, 6 m | Uses walker, minimal assistance | Neurotic/stress related disorder; Depression; OA | Son & daughter in-law (weekly) |
Female R12 | 87 | 20 | AD | 7 m | Independent | OA; Pain; Circulatory disease | Husband (2–3 times/week); Son (weekly) |
Themes | Sub themes/influences | |
---|---|---|
1. | Quality of life as maintaining independence | i. Structured routine |
ii. Lack of power | ||
iii. Choice | ||
2. | Having something to do: “You can’t just sit here looking at four walls” | i. Solitary activities |
ii. Organized activities & Outings | ||
3. | The Importance of Social Interaction: “She loves to see people that are from her life” | i. Family |
ii. Residents & staff |
Theme 1: Quality of Life as maintaining independence
I didn’t really have much of a quality of life < previously > …because the retirement village… you just fitted in with whatever was happening. You didn’t have much say in anything because it was just organized. But honestly this place is wonderful compared to - well I didn’t know what was going to happen from day to day beforehand… I am able to think for myself instead of, you know, being organized. (R4)
Structured routine
Well you fit in, you have to fit in with their… you fit in with their daily, [and] each day is a different day for doing things. You can’t do just exactly what you want because each day is different and they do different things < to her usual routine >. (R5)
Lack of power
Choice
They wanted to shower me. Now I’ve never allowed anyone to shower me. And so they got the message (laughs). Now imagine me at this age having an 18 year old or 20 or 30 shower you. It just wasn’t on. I said nobody showers me, nobody has ever showered me and nobody is ever going to shower me. Well not while I can stand up on my two legs. (R12)
Theme 2: Having something to do: “You can’t just sit here looking at four walls”
Solitary activities
I subscribe to the Epoch Times… I think it originates from China. It’s a paper that doesn’t go in for ads or anything, it’s just news…It’s just - see air pollution causes cancer so let’s do something about it. And, you know, there’ll be an article on what can be done and what can’t be done. There’s nine commentaries on the Communist Party and what they do and what they shouldn’t be doing (laughs). (R4)
Organized activities and outings
You haven’t got a life…I’m too old to be sitting in on anything. I’ve had a go with some darn thing and I take too long to sort out exactly what they said. Oh I interrupt that game and if I join in any games you can rest assured they’ll be going tch there she goes again. Oh I can’t hear. (R7)