Analysis of the Habit of Space Occupancy of Residents in Group Homes for the Elderly

고령자 그룹홈 거주자의 공간이용패턴 분석

This study evaluated 23 elderly residents living independently in 4 group homes for their behaviors of space occupancy and activities of daily living. The aim of the study was to analysis the habit of space occupancy of residents in group homes for elderly people. As the results, the habit of space occupancy of residents in group homes was analysed and categorized into four types: (1) bedroom occupancy, (2) common space occupancy, (3) 2-space occupancy and (4) several spaces occupancy. It was shown, then, that the common space occupancy in ‘ㅂ' group home, 2-space occupancy and several spaces occupancy in 'ㅇ' and 'ㄱ' group homes, and bedroom occupancy in ‘ㅅ' group home were highest, respectively, so that the type of their space occupancy varied in accordance with individual group homes. Moreover, there was a difference in the habit of their space occupancy according to the degree of achieving both ADL and IADL. This fact seems to indicate that the higher the degree of their independence in ADL and IADL, the more the number of their occupying space. Accordingly, the degree of their independence in achieving ADL and IADL should be taken into account in planning residential spaces for elderly people, including individual and commonly sharing spaces, traffic lines, layout and facilities.