Over three years (2014–2016), through a semi-longitudinal ethnographic case study, we investigated the day-to-day ‘lived experience’ for residents of one Brisbane aged care facility. More than one hundred people—residents (retirement village, residential aged care, nursing home, dementia and respite), their family and friends, and the aged care workforce (from nurses and carers through to cooks and administrators)—participated in repeated in-depth interviews, workshops, surveys, observations and creative arts- based activities.
Within the linked sections below, we describe two of the relatively novel and creative qualitative methodologies we used in this research project: photovoice and poetic inquiry. When paired with other more traditional qualitative methods (such as repeated in-depth interviews), these creative approaches help us “feel”, “see” and viscerally experience life in aged care (please note that appropriate ethical approvals were obtained for all research activities).
Photovoice: A participatory visual research technique
Poetic Inquiry: Creating poems from interviews with residents