• Journal of the Korean housing association
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.13-20
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to describe the overall physical environment's features of nursing homes for Korean American elders in the United States. This investigation was conducted in Korean American nursing homes on the East Coast and in the Midwest with multiple qualitative data collection methods, such as interviews, observations, document review, and field notes. The findings of this study are as follows: 1) Although almost all respondents were unable to speak and understand English at all, most written materials in nursing homes were in only English; 2) The nursing homes were placed near or within the Korean communities; thus, it contributed to close ties with religious Korean American groups and other groups in the ethnic communities; 3) Whether the facility's physical features looked like those of a hospital or a home, many residents did not consider a nursing homes as a real home; 4) A fenced garden in the nursing home in the Midwest was the residents' favorite public space; 5) Due to being forced to room with residents who had dementia and were bedridden, they were more likely to have conflicts with their roommates and feel uncomfortable living in their room; and 6) The facilities seemed to be designed without consideration to protect residents' privacy.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.187-194
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• 2020

When a human being grew older, followed by visually and perceptually impaired, and dementia, it jeopardizes safety and life unless supportive design is secured for a living environment. This supportive space is based on universal design concept which offers safe-oriented, and simple use by incorporating gender and physical/mental limitation. The study of purppose was to examine the appropriateness of barrier-free standard for seniors' living in apartment through IPA. Chi-square analysis found that satisfaction with BF space is lowered as aging is continued and for female group. Regression analysis indicated that sink was the prime predictor in satisfaction, and stair/elevator was the most important variable. IPA concluded that sink, bath, shower/locker and alert/egress were prime BF indexes to be improved among 14 elements, implying careful design in sanitation area for seniors.