Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to summarize the current status of improving the residential settings for the elderly and to discuss the future issues in the relating field. This study focuses on the importance of minimizing relocation shock that the elderly experience in the process of moving to a new facility and of the physical environment which facilitates adaptation to a new environment. Personalizing residents' rooms and planning common spaces which afford the various life patterns - this is the first endeavor seen in the improvement process at nursing homes. Spatial composi- tion in the smaller setting such as a GH is also introduced as another key factor in the process at the large facility. This paper also introduces "Group House AMAGASAKI" as the most leading case.
