Architecturalspace as a moulding factor of care practices and resident privacy in assisted living

Thisarticle presents an analysis of privacy, care practices and architectural spacein assisted living in Sweden. The presented research is a qualitative casestudy. Observations and personal interviews with staff as well as residentswere the major data collection methods. The analysis revealed the elusivenessof the private/public dichotomy; how privacy appeared in public spaces and howprivate spaces became public under certain conditions. Over the day, theresident followed a trajectory of privacy structured by caring activities invarious spaces from which distance and closeness to the staff emerged. Thestudy showed how individualised care practices improved privacy for theresident. Although the architectural conditions constrained the staff in thestudy, they used a number of spatial strategies in order to improve residentprivacy, for instance, in the dining room at meal times or when residents weresubject to intimate care in their private rooms. Access and control aredimensions of privacy that are of relevance to assisted living. Residents’control of access to their private rooms was more successful than their controlof access to the public areas in the unit. Individual care strengthenedresident agency. Staff supported the residents to lead a private life in theassisted living facility.