[Variable perception of time in inpatient geriatric care--how long is the present?]

Time and again a lack of staff in the field of people's nursing is discussed (chronic lack of nursing staff); this means that there are not enough people to do the available work) (1). However, the time factor is also an important sociological dimension in old people's stationary care. First of all, this article points out the time dimension throughout life. This is followed by people's varying perceptions of the present and the related upsets and misunderstandings. Hereby the contradictory abundance and limitation in time as felt by the elderly also becomes apparent. The old people's awareness of the dwindling remainder of their own lifespans conflicts with the seemingly endless time of each day that passes.