Population ageing and the increasing need for long-term care are heightening the importance of high-quality, accessible, and person-centred institutional care for older people. Residential care homes are not merely institutions providing health and social care; they also constitute the living environment of their residents. Residents’ quality of life therefore depends on the accessibility of support, their relationships with staff and other residents, opportunities to maintain independence, privacy and dignity, and their involvement in decisions concerning everyday life. Staffing conditions can significantly affect work organisation, staff availability, and opportunities to provide individualised care.
This graduation thesis examines how residents of a residential care home perceive staffing conditions and their significance for everyday life. It focuses on residents’ assessments of the quality of care, their relationships with staff and other residents, their experiences of safety, dignity and independence, and their opportunities to participate in shaping living conditions and care provision. The theoretical part discusses population ageing, social justice and the social inclusion of older people, institutional care, the long-term care system, and staffing challenges in residential care homes. Particular attention is given to the importance of relational and individualised care, residents’ participation, and the role of social work in protecting their rights.
The study is based on a qualitative, empirical, and exploratory research approach. It included five female residents and one male resident of the Ljubljana–Šiška Residential Care Home for Older People, all of whom had lived in the institution for at least five years. A non-probability convenience sample was used. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews and analysed using qualitative analysis, including open and axial coding.
The findings show that participants generally perceive their everyday life in the residential care home as structured, meaningful, and satisfactory. Organised activities, independent leisure activities, family contacts, and relationships with other residents are important to them. They generally assess their living conditions and basic care positively, while their opinions regarding food are more varied. Most participants perceive staff shortages, frequent staff turnover, and an increased workload among existing staff. Staffing shortages are generally not reflected in the absence of essential support, but primarily in longer waiting times, tasks being performed more quickly, and less time being available for conversation and personal contact. The consequences are more pronounced for residents who are more dependent on staff support because of their health conditions or reduced independence.
Participants generally describe their relationships with staff as friendly, respectful, and caring. They usually feel safe in the residential care home, retain a certain degree of independence, and have opportunities to express their opinions, although their suggestions are not always taken into account in practice. The findings indicate that adequate staffing levels are important not only for the provision of basic care but also for ensuring high-quality relationships, individualised support, dignity, autonomy, and meaningful resident participation.
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