A STUDY ON THE TERMINAL CARE ENVIRONMENT IN NEW TYPE LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WITH SMALL CARE UNIT

Abstract

This paper focuses on the terminal care environment in the facilities with small care unit bearing in mind of the way of providing care, behavior of the residents as well as their families. The interviews in ten facilities, simulation studies and the twenty case surveys on the terminal stage are carried out and the conclusions are the followings. 1) Individual care environment must be provided for the terminal care in long-term care facilities. The appropriate balance between the number of staff and the number of residents per unit should be carefully planned to provide individual care. 2) The residents tend to stay in the living space of the care unit even in the terminal stage. Therefore the space connection between unit living and private rooms is still important in the terminal stage. 3) Private rooms encourage families to be involved in the terminal care with the home-like environment.