Abstract
This paper aims to clarify the effects and problems of introduction of small group unit to traditional nursing home by reform. We surveyed a reformed nursing home that had new small units and traditional large unit, immediately after the reform and one after year by means of mapping of activities of the residents/ care staffs, behavior observation and deep interviews. The findings are as follows: (1) Comparing small unit and large unit, care acts of the staffs were not so different, but frequency of communication of the staffs and the residents increased in small unit. (2) The residents' lifes in small unit were similar to those in large unit at first, but gradually changed. Person with low care-need level came to stay in the corridor independently. In contrast, person with high care-need level came to spend long time in their room idly. (3) Corridor spaces were able to play important role in the form of the residents' life not only as passage spaces but also as semi-private zone.
