An ethnographic study with older adults' in residential care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An ethnographic investigation of older adults' experiences of dignity and well-being living in a residential care setting.
IRAS ID
293764
Contact name
Jayme Tauzer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This qualitative study is designed to understand how older adults living in residential care experience daily life. More specifically, the aim of this study is to understand residents' experiences of dignity and well-being in the residential care setting through spending time there and participating in daily life. Data will be qualitative - participant observation and interviews. The study will take place in a residential care facility located in north England, which offers a continuum from independent living to end-of-life care.
I will observe the day-to-day experiences of residents of this residential community. With the support of managers and residential care staff, I will introduce my research to three to four households made up of 10-12 residents each. I will participate during household-wide events such as cooking, crafting, and activities of daily life. I will document what I observe through the means of notes from observations during participation and from conversations with both residents and staff. Though I am focused on the experiences of residents, I will also include observations and conversations with willing staff in order to make sense of the culture of the facility; including experiences and the role of staff will provide a deeper understanding of the care facility. I will also conduct interviews with residents. I will interact with the community for no more than four hours at a time in order to respect residents’ and staff needs for privacy and rest.
To produce findings from this study, I will analyse the notes I take from what I observe during participation (field notes) as well as findings from recorded and transcribed interviews, and notes from a reflexive journal meant to document my own thoughts and experiences throughout the research process.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
21/IEC08/0005
Date of REC Opinion
16 Mar 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion