Meetings with Elderly Patients and Care Staff

Abstract

An observational study of hospital and nursing homes for the elderly by Clark and Bowling (1989), confirming previous research, found a lack of contact between elderly patients, only occasional ‘comments’ passed between staff and patients and rather a lot of negative ‘bckering’ interactions on wards. A high proportion of patients were described as detached, ‘showing no bias or emotional involvement, disinterested, disconnected’. The study concluded that despite the various ‘flexible’ philosophies of hospitals or homes, ‘caring practices are characterised by routinisation and control’. In the work I shall describe in this chapter my hope was to address some of the factors which contribute to this deadly institutionalisation.