”[…] men ellers var det jo god mat, men det var jævlig strengt!” : en kvalitativ kasus- studie med fokus på fortellingene til tidligere pasienter på Trastad Gård, Nord-Norges åndssvakehjem.

Abstract

This study is to provide an understanding of the experiences of former inmates of “Trastad Gård”, a Northern Norwegian institution for people earlier categorised “men-tally retarded”, which was closed down in 1991. Six former staff members, six inmates and eight parents/ siblings took part in the research. Informal qualitative interviews were employed in acquiring information on the lived experiences and events that took place at the institution.

The stories that emerged suggest a clear distinction between the staff and the inmates. The staff members were superior and the inmates, subordinates. This distinction, which is evident in all activities in the institution together with a hegemonic and strict administration in the Wards of “Trastad Gård” were experienced by the inmates as very suppressive. The stories are presented and explored in an interactional perspective. Issues on becoming an individual, social devaluation, power and counter power are central in the discussions.

Despite the rather extreme situation that characterised their relocation at “Trastad Gård”, the former inmates did not consider themselves as mere passive “victims” to tragic circumstances. Much of the interaction between the inmates and the staff re-volved around firm routines and strict rules. Problems in interaction that seemed almost irresolvable were met with temporal “solutions”. These practical solutions were based on harsh measures from staff members and which faced inventive responses from the inmates.

Formålet med denne studien er å forstå hvordan hverdagslivet på Trastad Gård, en tidligere sentralinstitusjon under HVPU, opplevdes for klientene. Seks tidligere ansatte, seks tidligere såkalte pasienter og åtte pårørende bidrar med informasjon fra hverdagen i avdelingene. Fortellingene ble samlet inn ved hjelp av uformelle kvalitative intervju. Fortellingene antyder en fast distinksjon mellom personal og pasient, der personalet var overordnet pasientene. Denne distinksjonen, sammen med en stram administrering av avdelingene, virket svært undertrykkende på pasientene. De tidligere pasientene gir, tross den ekstreme virkeligheten de var plassert i, et klart inntrykk av at de forstår seg selv som mer enn offer for tragiske omstendigheter. Mye av samhandlingen mellom pasient og personal utviklet seg til et spill omkring rutiner og regler, eller problemer som virket nærmest uløselige, men som fant sitt midlertidige ”svar” i en praksis med stivbente tiltak og oppfinnsomme mottiltak.