Staff activities and behaviour are the source of many feelings: relatives'interactions and relationships with staff in nursing homes

Family members do not give up their involvement in the life of their older relatives when they move to an institution. Relatives feel that it is they who take the initiative to establish a worki ng relationship with the staff at the nursing home. Relatives want more spontaneous information from staff, particularly about residents' dairy fives, and there is a need for relatives to have opportuni ties to talk with staff under relaxed conditions. Staff behaviour and activities towards residents and relatives are a source of many feelings for relatives. Relatives' understandings of the challenges faced by staff are not communic ated to staff, nor are positive or negative experiences explicitly passed o n to staff.