[The relationship between participation and space in residential care facilities for older people]. / Das Verhältnis von Partizipation und Raum in stationären Altenhilfeeinrichtungen.

BACKGROUND: Participation has been a key issue in gerontology, geriatric care policy and practice for several years now. The relationship between participation and space plays a role in the discussion about community orientation. So far, little attention has been paid to the relationship between participation and space within residential care facilities for older people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative data from two studies on residential care facilities for older people were secondarily analyzed by a "supra-analysis" and using qualitative content analysis with respect to participation in relation to space and space in relation to participation. RESULTS: Almost all levels of the participation ladder considered can be found with respect to the co-design of spaces, although residents with dementia are granted fewer opportunities for participation. In addition, spaces can create conditions for participation through their arrangement. Reciprocal relationships are condensed in processes of space appropriation, design and planning. If there is no access to these processes, self-determined everyday life is limited. CONCLUSION: The results contribute to a spatially related development of participation concepts because they show in which spatial contexts participation is produced in institutional settings through the interaction of different actors and how it is distributed spatially. In order to promote participation in institutions, it is important to reflect on existing possibilities for spatial appropriation, design and planning against the background of institutional framework conditions.

[Sociospatial orientations in residential geriatric care : Critical classifications and suggestions from the perspective of social work]. / Orientierungen zum Sozialraum in der stationären Altenhilfe : Kritische Einordnungen und Anregungen aus Sicht der Sozialen Arbeit.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, social space-oriented or community-based approaches have become more important in residential care for old people, especially in the context of the debate about age-friendly communities. Within the science and practice of social work, social space-oriented concepts not only have a long tradition but have also inspired new orientations in various fields of action since the 1990s. Therefore, it is of interest a) which social space-oriented approaches to action exist for residential geriatric care, b) to what extent these approaches make reference to foundations of social space orientation in social work and c) which suggestions can be derived from social work with respect to further development of social space-oriented geriatric care. METHOD: The article is based on selective literature review. The literature search focused on publications on sociospatial and neighbourhood-related approaches in residential geriatric care and the in-depth analysis on theoretical and conceptual references to sociospatial orientation. RESULTS: While approaches in the 1980s were based on community-oriented social work, contemporary references to the foundations of social work remain vague. In keeping with the discussion in social work, one suggestion is to consider social spaces also as life worlds and to analyze their resources as well as limitations in geriatric care facilities and their environment in a participatory way, with the focus on improving the living conditions of people with care needs.

Emotional Safety in the Context of Dementia: A Multiperspective Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Current research acknowledges the relevance of the emotional safety of people living with dementia. However, available evidence regarding this topic is limited. A comprehensive view of this topic that equally considers the perspectives of people living in an early stage of dementia, relatives, and public stakeholders is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to obtain a multiperspective view of emotional safety in the context of dementia in the living environment. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted based on data collected through semi-structured guided interviews (n = 14), focus groups (n = 3), guided feedback, and participatory approaches. People living in an early stage of dementia (N = 6), relatives of people living with dementia (N = 11), and public stakeholders (N = 15) were included. RESULTS: Considering "social togetherness", "personal condition", "health", "physical environment", and "society" in the light of "living and learning in relations" are preconditions for understanding emotional safety in the context of dementia. "Living and learning in relations" refers to the interaction of people in the context of dementia and relations to the topic of dementia. The focus lies on the (collective) learning. The individuality of each person and his or her situation is central, related to dementia-related, psychosocial, biographical, physical, and economic factors. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the relevance of research on emotional safety in the context of dementia. Approaches to improving the emotional safety of people living in an early stage of dementia should consider the complex situations of each target group in relation to each other at the micro, meso, and macro levels.