Objective: The study to be described here is part of a project that aimed to assess and develop the quality of long-term geriatric care in Helsinki, Finland. The aim is to describe the quality of long-term geriatric care as assessed by relatives in 2001 compared to a similar assessment in 1998.
Design: The surveys in both 1998 and 2001 covered all the seven long-term geriatric institutions in the City of Helsinki, which have altogether 53 wards. In the year 1998, the staff handed out altogether 673 questionnaires. The response percentage was 75.6%. In the year 2001, the staff handed out altogether 802 questionnaires, and the response percentage was 77.8%. The results are presented as frequency and percentage distributions, means and medians and cross-tabulations.
Findings: The responding relatives were generally content with the care of their elderly relatives: 92 % said they were very satisfied or satisfied with the care, and the average of the marks given for geriatric care was 8.3. (range 4-10) Relatives were more content now than in 1998, when the corresponding figures were 86 % and 7.3 (range 4-10) Nevertheless, the results still highlight certain aspects that should be improved and developed.
Conclusions: According to relatives’ estimates, the hospital staff was well able to respond to their elderly patients’ physical needs, but the opportunities of the patients to go outdoors, to walk or to move around with aids were still too scant. Relatives hoped their elderly relatives would have a more active life and more stimulating care.
Implications: The findings highlight the importance of primary nursing in geriatric care. The primary nurse knows his/her patients best and is best able to coordinate their care. Primary nursing is one way in which nurses and relatives can work more closely in the best interests of older residents.
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