ABSTRACT
More than half a century has passed since Goffman’s depiction of nursing homes and homes for the aged in dark colours of total institutions (Goffman, 1961). Not only has the number of older persons living in residential care increased dramatically (as a result of the ageing of the world population), but the landscape of residential care for an older population has changed significantly. As has been described in the different chapters of this book, in many countries around the world new models of residential care settings have been established, new ideologies regarding the means and ways of care have been presented, and new legal frameworks to regulate and supervise these care facilities have been enacted.
