Abstract
This research comprehended the fundamental cause of elderly nursing home residents' negative feelings of loneliness, depression, fear, and loss of self-usefulness as existential issue, since they already went through loss, death of loved ones, geriatric disease and disability. The purpose of this research is to explore how existentialism and existential psychotherapy theory of Irvin D. Yalom can be applied to nursing home environment design, and to suggest design directions. Based on his framework of human's ultimate interest, death, freedom followed by responsibility, isolation, and meaninglessness, interior design suggestions and applicable spaces were presented. Four cases from Australia, Denmark, Japan and Korea were analyzed according to design suggestions to grasp the current situation and to draw further proposition. The conclusions are as follows. (1)Environment should support nursing home residents to resolve existential issues. (2)Death is the least supported issue on all of the cases. Environmental elements that can induce residents to think and discuss on death, hospice program and space for memorial service is necessary. (3)Regarding to freedom, the environment should support resident's disability to maintain independence as much as possible and residents autonomy and decision should be respected. Single/double rooms, motorized bed, free and safe usage of kitchen and garden are necessary. (4)For isolation, Space and time for meditation should be provided. (5)To find meaning of life, environment should support residents in both physical and cognitive aspect so that they can contribute to others. Space for hobby is necessary for continued creativity and self-realization.