Elderly residents' participation and autonomy within a geriatric ward in a public institution.

In this study the importance of the concept of autonomy among residents in geriatric institutions was investigated. By granting the residents more autonomy, their satisfaction increased, their daily routine changed, and their participation in social activity increased. Correlation was found between the degree of autonomy and the degree of the participation in different activities within the ward. The conclusion reached is that the residents' quality of life improves with more autonomy within the institution's framework.