Burgess 1 Carmen Burgess English 1102 Professor Hinnant 16 February 2014 Ethnography: How is a Person s !

ental "tate Effe#te$ %hen &i'ing in a (ursing Home Opening Statement )lass sli$ing $oors* green frien$ly #arpet* green +,-&.(/EE01 nametags2 Activity calendars posted on each hallway and friendly staff members giving residents a greeting as they walk by. Residents sitting around a TV watching I Love Lucy by the nurses station as residents in wheelchairs rolling up and down the hallways as they please. !ursing staff making their rounds for bathes and handing out medicine around the residents activities they chose to participate throughout the day. Residents are visiting with friends and family sitting in common rooms with large windows to allow lots of sunlight into the room 2 /his buil$ing 'ery mu#h resembles a hotel both from the outsi$e to the insi$e2 /he warm atmosphere ra$iates from e'ery aspe#t of the nursing home2 (ursing homes ha'e be#ome 3nown to be a pla#e where the elderly come to age miserably for the rest of their life2 Howe'er nursing homes to$ay ha'e be#ome mu#h in $eman$ and more popular than ever2 /he ages of people li'ing in a nursing home #oul$ be as young at 64 an$ as ol$ as 1022 People li'ing in these nursing home are gi'en meals at #ertain times of the $ay along with their me$i#ine gi'en to them on a s#he$ule by a nursing staff* bathe$ an$ other personal hygiene are also ta3en #are of by the nursing staff2 /he reason why people #ome to li'e at a nursing home #oul$ be for many reasons*

Burgess 2 they are unable to #are for themsel'es or they ha'e fallen an$ bro3en something an$ nee$ help to heal for the time being2 /he assistan#e gi'en at the nursing home allows the person to heal at his or her own pa#e su#h as pra#ti#ing e5er#ises from physi#al therapy2 (o matter the age* ra#e* or ethni#ity all resi$ents are wel#ome$ with the same #are as the other* these are in#lu$e$ in their Patient 0ights2 6n these rights* resi$ents are promise$ the #are to fulfill their life an$ #an lea'e a pro#e$ure or the fa#ility without being stoppe$ by a staff member2 0esi$ents are able to li'e a longer an$ strong life when their time has #ome to li'e in a nursing home2 /hrough my obser'ation 6 was able to embra#e how effe#te$ a person s mental state is impro'e$ by li'ing in a nursing home2 /he mental state 6 refer to is the psy#hologi#al an$ motor s3ills a person still has7 for e5ample how the person respon$s to others* how well they are able to get aroun$ with minimal help* an$ how well their senses #ontinue to wor3 or whi#h ones left are still wor3ing2 Overall nursing homes have a positive affect on elderly people in these specific ways" engaging in various activities visiting with their neighbors of the nursing home along with people who come to visit them outside of the nursing home choosing what meals the person wants to eat having direct help from any of the staff when needed and so on. Observations at the #ines of $avidson 6 'olunteer at the Pines for about two hours e'ery !on$ay with activities su#h as helping with the a#ti'ities of $rumming an$ musi# rela5ation2 8s a 'olunteer 6 must wear a green nametag that says +,-&.(/EE021 /he staff is always wel#oming an$ is #onstantly $oing something for a resi$ent2 /he hallways form a #ross with the interse#tion at the nurses station* where a tele'ision is an$ you #an always fin$ resi$ents

Burgess 9 sitting wat#hing t' an$ so#iali:ing with ea#h other2 0esi$ents are #onstantly in #onta#t with someone* they are more or less li'ing in an en'ironment that resembles a neighborhoo$2 %owever each person has their own room to go to for ;uiet time an$ always ha'e people to so#iali:e with whether it is other resi$ents or the staff2 /his nursing home is one of the biggest nursing homes in the area2 /here are apartments for resi$ents to li'e in who only nee$s some support from the staff* the Health Care unit has two le'els* the top le'el is 8ssiste$ &i'ing* an$ bran#he$ off from the Health Care unit is the Pur#ell unit2 /he 8ssiste$ &i'ing resi$ents are not $epen$ent on the help of the staff but ha'e a few nee$s from the staff2 Health Care includes resi$ents who nee$ various le'els of assistan#e from the staff2 One resident could need help getting dressed for the day and for another person in the same hallway could need help taking a shower. /he Pur#ell unit has resi$ents who have $ementias* these resi$ents are $epen$ent on the staff to help with #hanging an$ bathing them* some people are able to wal3 on their own while others #an wal3 with only a wal3er2 Ea#h resi$ent at the nursing home has $ifferent nee$s an$ how mu#h they are $epen$ent upon others2 Observations of $aily Routine 0esi$ents are gi'en the #han#e to #hoose what they want to eat at ea#h meal from a list of foo$s2 6 as3e$ a few resi$ents how the foo$ was at this nursing home* an$ they sai$ at the beginning of the wee3 you fill out what you want to eat for your meals from a list of #hoi#es2 /hey seeme$ to agree that the foo$ was not li3e a normal nursing home with foo$* the food was very en&oyable and healthy 2 /he resi$ents also note$* that if they were e'er hungry for a sna#3 the nursing staff gla$ly woul$ get them something to eat2 -ne of the $ays 6 spent some time in Pur#ell* an$ the one of the nurses was han$ing

Burgess 4 out a few #ra#3ers with tuna on top with <ui#e2 0esi$ents en<oy this brea3 an$ are able to sna#3 as they $i$ before #oming to the nursing home2 People may thin3 when they #ome to a nursing home they will not be able to #arry out their e'ery$ay routines as they $i$ before #oming to the nursing home2 Howe'er* resi$ents are seen 'isiting with ea#h other* ma3ing their own be$s* pi#3ing out the #lothes they want to wear for the $ay* an$ other $aily routines2 These simple tasks allow the person to still maintain their independence. As well as their self"esteem knowing they made these choices thus improving their mental state by putting themselves in a more positive outlook on life. /he nursing staff seems to un$erstan$ the resi$ents an$ 3now ea#h of their in$i'i$ual nee$s2 8ny staff member #oul$ be foun$ sitting an$ tal3ing with people* trying to ma3e their $ay better2 0esi$ents smile an$ want to tal3 to the staff* a#tually let alone anyone that wal3s through the $oors2 /hey always ha'e something to tal3 about an$ want people to listen to them2 'ost come to the nursing home as social butterflies and continue to sociali(e and make more friends at the nursing home. The people who come to the home shy often make friends by participating in the activities and during mealtimes. #eople are able to carry out their everyday lives including sociali(ing with others at the nursing home. 0esi$ents are able to tal3 an$ #arry on at this nursing home be#ause they feel they ha'e the free$om to $o so2 !any are foun$ on a ni#e $ay strolling aroun$ the fa#ility* whi#h is surroun$e$* by woo$e$ areas an$ pi#ni# tables2 Frien$s an$ family will #ome to 'isit their lo'e$ one an$ ta3e them out for the afternoon to eat or $o some gro#ery shopping2 Family members are strongly wel#ome$ by the fa#ility* an$ be#ome familiar with the staff an$ other resi$ents at the nursing home2 /his aspe#t ensure that if

Burgess 4 the resi$ents see their families being wel#ome$ at the nursing home* they are more in#line$ to feel more at home an$ settle$ into the nursing home2 This aspects allows social support to be included in the nursing home e)perience and helps with the psychological aspects of a persons mental health. Activities Observed* $rumming and 'usic Rela)ation /he staff members 6 wor3 most with when 6 'olunteer is the 8#ti'ity "taff for the nursing home2 /hese people are in #harge of #oor$inating $aily a#ti'ities for resi$ents to #ome to at #ertain times of the $ay2 /he a#ti'ities #oul$ in#lu$e #hair $is# golf* mani#ures* birth$ay parties* an$ the a#ti'ity 6 atten$ on !on$ays is $rumming2 =ean >ui#3* a Boar$ Certifie$ !usi# /herapist* is in #harge of this #ertain a#ti'ity along with many others throughout the $ay2 /his a#ti'ity is most li3e$ by the resi$ents $ue to the massi'e atten$an#e e'ery !on$ay* an$ ma3ing sure all resi$ents are able to fit in the room2 /he a#ti'ity begins with soft musi# playing as resi$ents begin to fill into the room2 Chairs are set up in an interesting arrangement7 spa#es are put between #hairs for people with wheel#hairs to be pla#e$ in these spa#es2 /his way people in wheel#hairs $o not feel isolate$ from others be#ause they are in wheel#hairs* an$ put with e'eryone else who is in a wheel#hair2 The arrangement of the spacing of the chairs show how the staff cares about a sense of community and e+uality for the people at the nursing home. /he instruments are set up on a table for the people to see as they wal3 in an$ the $rums are pla#e$ besi$es this table2 0esi$ents arrive per3y an$ smiling rea$y to bang on a $rum* an$ be a musi#ian for the ne5t 44 minutes2 =ean greets ea#h person as they enter an$ #he#3 on how they are $oing* being genuinely gla$ the person #hose to spen$ the

Burgess 6 afternoon parti#ipating in his a#ti'ity2 /he room fills up 'ery ;ui#3ly an$ the a#ti'ity is rea$y to start e5a#tly at 9:90 as s#he$ule$* as the resi$ents sit impatiently in their seats2 =ean starts the e5er#ise off by intro$u#ing ea#h instrument* playing a note* an$ telling the history2 /he au$ien#e gi'es many +ohhs1 an$ +ahhs1 as =ean plays tunes with instruments the resi$ents seem be unfamiliar2 /he instruments in#lu$e $rums* sha3ers* mara#as* the triangle* an$ many instruments2 8fter the intro$u#tion* ea#h person is gi'en the #hoi#e to #hoose any instrument they woul$ li3e to play2 %hen as3e$ some refer to their instrument as their +usual1 an$ =ean 3nows e5a#tly what instrument they are wanting2 This is an e)ample how well the staff knows their residents and how much they care about them. -thers are unable to bang on a $rum $ue to me$i#al reasons su#h so they are gi'en mara#as2 8ll are a##ommo$ate$ for the resi$ents7 no one is e5#lu$e$ from any a#ti'ity $ue to health restraints2 -n#e all the instruments are $istribute$* =ean tells e'eryone to <ust play the instrument anyway that they woul$ li3e2 /he room be#omes fille$ with lou$* tone?$eaf musi#ians playing their hearts out2 /he resi$ents are laughing an$ surprise$ by the noise they are ma3ing themsel'es@ "miles are a#ross ea#h resi$ents fa#e* howe'er some ha'e a pu::le$ loo3 on their fa#e trying to mat#h up the rhythm with their neighbor2 Finally after ea#h person gets a feel with their instrument* =ean tells e'eryone to stop playing an$ repeat a note or two he plays on the $rum2 /he few notes soon turn into more #omple5 patterns of rhythms* an$ surprisingly the resi$ents were able to listen an$ playe$ the tune 'ery well2 /he resi$ents min$s are #hallenge$ an$ 3ept a#ti'e through 'arious a#ti'ities su#h as $rumming2 =ean or#hestrate$ the resi$ents to ma3e $ifferent patterns with their instruments with the $ifferent parts of the room2 Ea#h $rumming

Burgess A a#ti'ity en$s with a song all the resi$ents #an sing an$ play along to* an$ all the resi$ents sing the song to the top of their lungs2 8ll the instruments are #olle#te$ after the sing?a? long an$ the group is mo'e$ straight into the ne5t a#ti'ity2 /he a#ti'ity following =rumming is !usi# 0ela5ation* whi#h ta3es about 14 minutes2 =ean puts on rela5ing musi#* su#h as rain $ropping or o#ean wa'es* as him an$ the 'olunteers #olle#t the instruments2 /he resi$ents are gi'en the #han#e to free their min$ of their bur$ens an$ to +es#ape1 their worries for a few minutes2 /he resi$ents are tol$ to sin3 $own into their #hairs an$ start to breath slowly2 0esi$ents ta3e full a$'antage of this time to release their worries an$ rest their hea$ ba#3 on the #hair2 8fter the musi# is playe$ from the re#or$ing an$ the piano* resi$ents are tol$ to slowly open their eyes an$ be#ome aware of their surroun$ings2 0esi$ents open their eyes full of energy an$ more tal3ati'e than before2 This activity helps to relieve stress and worries for the residents which also helps to keep their mental state psychologically in a good place. /hey are rea$y to so#iali:e an$ are as3ing what time supper is ser'e$* the time the a#ti'ities are finishe$ is aroun$ 4:44 an$ supper is ser'e$ at 4:902 /he resi$ents are use$ to routines an$ be#ome 'ery agitate$ if something $oes or $oes not happen $uring their $ay2 /he nursing home ma3es sure to 3eep a $aily s#he$ule for the resi$ents* <ust as they ha$ before #oming to the nursing home2 ,onclusion-Analysis /his person 6 #hose to inter'iew was =ean* as mentione$ before* he is #onstantly wor3ing first han$ with these resi$ents an$ 3nows 'ery mu#h about ea#h one2 8 ;uestion 6 as3 him was* what 3in$ of a#ti'ities $o you loo3 for in ma3ing a#ti'ities* e'ents* et# for the resi$entsB His response was* +6 loo3 for a#ti'ities that are a$aptable

Burgess C an$ ha'e fre;uen#y for all resi$ents to use2 8n$ most of all that are therapeuti# for the resi$ents21 6 thin3 how =ean pointe$ the ways he loo3s for a#ti'ities supports how the #areta3ers of a nursing home #ompletely #are of the well?being of their resi$ents at the nursing home2 (ursing home are a huge step in a person s life gi'ing up their home an$ putting their health into the han$s of people at the nursing home2 People #ome to the nursing home loo3ing for a better lifestyle than they ha$ before entering the home2 /his ;uestion lea$ to the support resi$ents re#ei'e from family an$ frien$s* when $o resi$ents get 'isitor* on holi$ays* wee3en$s* what is the most fre;uent timeB =ean state$ that the holi$ay most 'isite$ is !other s =ay* whi#h 6 thought was interesting2 He #ontinue$ to say that of #ourse the wee3en$s are the most fre;uently 'isite$ by family an$ frien$s* espe#ially on "un$ay mostly after #hur#h ser'i#es2 /he nursing home houses many el$erly women* as 6 obser'e$* as well as many #ouples marrie$ or not2 6 belie'e the holi$ay time has be#ome har$er for the resi$ents to li'e through be#ause some families may li'e in $ifferent states an$ the tra'el time is too far to ma3e $aily trips2 8s 6 obser'e$* the resi$ents of the Pines ha'e be#ome a #lose #onne#te$ family2 =ean tol$ me about how resi$ents who be#ame to the Pines wi$owe$* an$ after staying they has foun$ another spouse2 /he Pines has hel$ many we$$ings along with the re#eptions for all resi$ents to atten$2 !y final ;uestion to =ean was* how $o you see the resi$ents a$<usting to the new li'ing en'ironmentB His response was that ea#h resi$ent is $ifferent $epen$ing how his or her #ognition ability he or she ha'e2 Howe'er some people be#ome to the home starting off in 6n$epen$ent li'ing but for e5ample if they un$ergo surgery or brea3 their hip* the person is then mo'e$ to the Health #are unit if they #an no longer li'e as

Burgess D in$epen$ently as they ha$ pre'iously2 People may be#ome agitate$ from the #onstant help from the staff an$ not being able parta3e in the $aily routines as before2 People #ome to nursing home to ha'e the reassuran#e of li'ing in a #omfortable fa#ility with the hopes of #ontinuing their mental state or impro'ing their mental state2 /he ser'i#es pro'i$e$ by the nursing staff* a#ti'ity staff* the warmth of others* an$ ha'ing the #omfort of their own personali:e$ room2 /he o'erall #are an$ warmth resi$ents re#ei'e through the staff an$ frien$s an$ family is unmista3ably noti#eable2 0esi$ents want to maintain their in$epen$en#e as mu#h as possible* an$ li'ing in a nursing home allows them to $o so2 6 belie'e li'ing in a nursing home helps to maintain an$ impro'e the person s mental state2 8 mental state in#lu$es the #are they re#ei'e* so#ial intera#tion in#lu$ing 'isits from frien$s an$ family* an$ the feeling of ha'ing in$epen$en#e2 (ursing homes ha'e be#ome high in $eman$ be#ause more an$ more people are li'ing longer an$ nee$ their mental state to still be in ta#t2

Burgess 10 %or3 Cite$: >ui#3* =ean2 6nter'iew2 Personal2 1A February 20142

Burgess 11 Carmen Burgess English 1102 2 February 2014 E6P >uestions Proposal: How is the mental health state of a resi$ent affe#te$ by li'ing in nursing homeB 12E %hat is your name an$ position at the PinesB =ean >ui#3? Boar$ Certifie$ !usi# /herapist

22E =es#ribe your $ay to $ay s#he$ule* what types of a#ti'ities $o you $oB ?#he#3 in with a#ti'ity team ?go to $ifferent units an$ #he#3 in with nursing ? morning session ? in$i'i$ual treamtment sessions ? afternoon session ? musi# enri#hment for resi$ent lun#hes ? lun#h ? early afternoon session ? paperwor3 ? later afternoon session ? !on$ay an$ Fri$ay ha'e guests #ome in for a#ti'ites so $ay is #hange$ aroun$ 92E %hat $o you loo3 for in ma3ing a#ti'ities* e'ents* et#2 for the resi$entsB "omething that is a$aptable for all resi$ents an$ the fre;uen#y of how many resi$ents will be able to parti#ipate in the a#ti'ity2 !ost importantly* if the a#ti'ity in#lu$es a therapeuti# benefit for the resi$ents2

42E %hat 3in$ of a#ti'itiesF e'ents $o resi$ents rea#t most positi'ely towar$sB %hy $o you thin3 thisB ?8#ti'e musi# ma3ing G$rumming* #hoirE ? 0e#epti'e !usi# 0ela5ation ? E5pressi'e 8rts 42E %hen $o resi$ents get 'isitors GfamilyFfrien$sEB E'ery wee3 or more $uring the holi$ay timesB !ore on !other s $ay than any other holi$ay* an$ wee3en$s are more pa#3e$ espe#ially on "un$ays be#ause many families #ome from #hur#h to 'isit with their lo'e$ one2

Burgess 12

62E %hat age group $o you mostly see #oming to li'e in the nursing homeB How long $o they li'e in the nursing home* temporary or for the rest of their li'esB !in? 64 !a5?102 !any #ome for the rest of their life* or some may <ust stay at nursing home for temporary time $ue to in<ury or surgery2 Gmany #ases 'aryE A2E How $o you see the resi$ents a$<usting to the new li'ing en'ironmentB /ougher to a$<uste$ in 8ssiste$ &i'ing if they #ame from 6n$epen$ent li'ing be#ause they are so use$ to $oing e'erything mostly on their own2 /hey are not use$ to ha'ing someone help them with more $aily a#ti'ities than before2 %hen they enter the Health#are #enter they 3now they nee$ more help an$ are more #omfortable getting help from others2 C2E =es#ribe the $o#tor an$ resi$ent intera#tion2 !e$i#al =ire#tor for nursing home* /ues$ay swit#hes aroun$ to $ifferent areas to #he#3 on resi$ents2

D2E %hat 3in$ of negati'e things $o you hear about nursing home an$ how $o you ma3e yours $ifferentB Personal 8spe#t? help person to remember* help person with #ogniti'e s3ills* in#rease positi'e emotions* $e#rease negati'e thoughts* in#rease so#ial an$ physi#al ability* in#rease #reati'ity2 )oal? to in#rease ;uality of life