[Time, memory, institution. Analysis of past experiences which emerge at times of crisis as a memory tract in the staff of a nursing home for the aged].

The paper analyses the feelings of the staff of an old people's home. Following an identification crisis, the group faced a massive regression. An attempt was made to solve this problem by dividing the staff into teams, each of which was entrusted with a group of old people for whose needs they would be entirely responsible. After two years, the staff were faced with problems which had previously seemed resolved. Old people in poor health were not respected as individuals. They were called by name and treated with familiarity; they were kept in bed to prevent them falling, and had to perform all their bodily functions in bed. Rebellious attitudes and depressive states were underestimated and ascribed to arteriosclerosis. An attempt was made to understand the reasons behind this regression. Small discussion groups were formed in order to reestablish the group's memory track which reorganisation and change had caused.