Time experience of selected institutionalized adult clients

Time experiences of 25 selected institutionalized adult clients were studied using the Time Experience Scale. Subject selection criteria were age, ability to comprehend written and oral English, institutionalization, and willingness to participate in the study. The findings suggest that institutionalized adult clients experienced time moving faster as they get older. Meaning, referring to concerns about dying and "attention to death," was found to be more important than past orientation, suggesting that institutionalized older adult clients were concerned about their time experience, its meaning, and influence on death. Nursing interventions could be directed toward increasing meaningful and purposeful activities, such as planned reminiscence therapy and reorientation techniques.