2008 Volume 73 Issue 629 Pages 1477-1484
In this paper, we first figured out the planning trend of nursing homes with small group units through gathering case examples and typifying spatial composition. Then, the influence of spatial composition on residents' living aspects in these facilities was studied in an all day observational survey of residents' staying places and their personal interactions. Consequently, this paper found that the spatial composition and care system can partially prescribe the ambits of residents' living and personal interactions as follows:
1) Residents' living tends to be completed in each unit, especially when the units are independent.
2) The spatial composition inside each unit has an influence on residents' selection of staying places when there are choices other than a place to dine, and at the same time, a commitment of staff and so on take place.
3) Residents' interactions naturally do not tend to occur beyond each unit. However, residents' interactions occur widely beyond each unit when adjoining units are connected and also some care beyond physical unit, e.g., joint management, is provided.
