Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze characteristics of the bedroom environment of nursing homes for the elderly in Korea. Field case research was performed using a structured checklist and measurements, from Oct. 28th to Dec. 2nd, 2006. Collected data were analyzed for cognitive efficiency, privacy, safety, supportiveness and amenity. Based on nursing homes for the elderly nationwide (Ministry of Health and Welfare, 2006), we choose 43 facilities in which Seoul and six megalopolis areas that had answered our questionnaire in 2006. We then narrowed the list to 14 facilities, balanced them in terms of regional population. The contents of investigation consisted of eight categories: that general characteristics of the bedrooms (including number of residents per room, using a bed or floor mat, the size and shape of the chamber, space for wheelchair turning, signage), door of bedroom (including door, doorknob, door sill/level difference), windows in the bedroom(including type of window, window sill height, window treatment, window safety device/shape, view/daylight), furniture (including personal furniture and lock), finishes (material, character and color of wall, floor, ceiling), lighting (including types of lighting, night lighting, switch), bathroom in the bedroom (including signage, door size/type, doorknob shape, height of the washbowl, size of toilet bowl, handrail, finishes), and other facilities (including outlet and handrails).
