Relatives' Experience of the Terminal Care of Long‐term Geriatric Patients in Open‐plan Rooms

. The advantages and disadvantages of terminal care in open‐plan patient rooms have been discussed in the literature. This article describes the results of a study on relatives' experience of care in open‐plan rooms. It describes how relatives experienced the patient and the ward environment and how they participated in the care. The content of interviews with relatives of long‐term geriatric patients was interpreted according to Erik H. Erikson's theory of “eight stages of man”. The findings indicated that the information to the relatives was insufficient and relatives' participation in planning the care was scarce. The open‐plan room environment was experienced as deterrent and the patient as deserted. A majority of the relatives experienced emotional contact with the patient. Open‐plan patient rooms with a task assignment organisation of care do not provide patients and relatives with the conditions necessary for the experience of integrity, and this could disturb the relationship between the patient and his relatives.