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Moving from victim blaming to an appreciative inquiry: Exploring quality of life in care homes

Julienne Meyer (City University London)
Hazel Heath (City University London)
Cheryl Holman (City University London)
Tom Owen (Help the Aged London)

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults

ISSN: 1471-7794

Article publication date: 1 December 2006

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Abstract

This paper highlights the need for researchers to work across disciplinary boundaries in order to capture the complexity that care practitioners have to engage with everyday in care home settings. Drawing on findings from a literature review on the complexity of loss in continuing care institutions for older people, the case is made for less victim blaming and more appreciative approaches to research. The way this thinking informed the development of a further literature review on quality of life in care homes (My Home Life) is discussed. Findings from this second study are shared by illustrating key messages with quotes from older residents, relatives and staff living, visiting and working in care homes. These best practice messages focus on: transition into a care home; working to help residents maintain their identity; creating community within care homes; shared decision‐making; health and health services; end‐of‐life care; keeping the workforce fit for purpose, and promoting positive culture. The importance of collaborative working in both research and practice is discussed. The paper is likely to be of interest to all those concerned with improving and developing evidence‐based practice in the care home sector, including users and service providers, managers, commissioners and inspectors, policy‐makers, researchers and teachers.

Keywords

Citation

Meyer, J., Heath, H., Holman, C. and Owen, T. (2006), "Moving from victim blaming to an appreciative inquiry: Exploring quality of life in care homes", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 27-36. https://doi.org/10.1108/14717794200600025

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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