Abstract
This study has been performed to explore main reasons for staying in paid elderly residential care facilities among the residents. In this study, five males and seven females aged 65 to 82 were asked about main reasons for staying in the facilities. The answers of the qualitative interview were drawn as follows; first, some residents had suddenly decided to move into the facility due to critical life events such as bereavement, serious illness, or supporting problems. Second, some residents had taken a long period of considerations on whether staying home or in the facilities, because their health and family supports gradually diminished over the long life span. On the other hand, a few of them voluntarily chose to stay at the facilities, because they recognized supervised group activities, nutritionally well-planned meals, and health care as major inconveniences. In this study, suggestions were made as follows: first, guiding and settlement programs should be developed for the residents of the sudden events, particularly at early stage of admission. Second, intensive nursing care units should be in separation from healthy independent groups, so that the residents are relieved from stressful contacts with extremely ill patients in the residential area.