ABSTRACT
A number of researchers have taken a less global approach to the study of institutional quality. Social interaction has been studied by means of interview and a number of different observation methods which have also investigated the activities of staff and residents. Much is known about the nature of life in care and those who live in it. The history of institutional care for older people in the UK is such that much relevant material is to be found in reports of hospital based studies, as well as in work carried out in residential and nursing homes. The Quality of Life Study was designed to provide evidence on effective practice in care homes that leads to better outcomes in terms of quality of life of those older people who use those services. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
