Accessing and interviewing the oldest old in care homes

Abstract

Accessing and interviewing older people in residential and nursing homes (care homes) presents a number of methodological challenges. Such challenges were encountered and, in many respects, overcome in a recent survey of more than 900 residents undertaken for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). This survey helped underpin a broader review of care homes that reflected the OFT's concerns about the ‘potential for detriment’ in the position of residents as consumers of services.Notable are the ways in which an attempt was made to maximise the inclusion of people with cognitive impairments through the devising of what was regarded as an appropriate screening test that reflected the demands of the planned interviews. A discussion of the potential for using proxies (for those failing the screening test) points to their inability to fairly represent the views of cognitively impaired residents. Also explored is the way in which access was obtained to residents and issues concerning the gate‐keeping role of home owners and managers. Questions relating to the associated rights of residents and third party interests are touched upon.

Citation

Fisk, M. and Wigley, V. (2000), "Accessing and interviewing the oldest old in care homes", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 27-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/14717794200000005