‘IT'S TIME IT ENDED AND YET I HESITATE, I HESITATE TO END IT’: THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

Abstract

Institutionalized responses to human care have been prone to developing unhelpful practices. Inquiries into malpractice often generate recommendations focusing on improving protocols or procedures, while neglecting the emotional experiences of both clients and staff. In this study, we aimed to address why and how complex and challenging emotions enter into care work. We explored the emotional world of a residential home for older people, using a psychosocial observational approach based on the Tavistock method. We have presented four themes: attacking–defending, living–dying, paralysis–movement and emptiness–fullness, which illustrate the complex existential challenges faced both by residents and staff in such a context. Our observations revealed how a range of defensive processes operated to protect the observer from experiencing painful feelings and emotions. Throughout the observation period an increasingly complex understanding developed of the emotional life of the home. This process was made possible by reflective supervision sessions. Our findings generate implications for the type of support that may be needed by care staff in such environments.