Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine wandering behaviors of the elderly with dementia at elderly care facilities, thus finding out the current status of supportability and safety of wandering space for facility residents and looking into the convenience of management for the control and Support of the elderly with dementia in wandering space, from the aspect of managers. Study methods consisted of literature examination, on-site assessment and investigation, observation and questionnaire survey. And via a questionnaire survey of facility workers at study subject facilities, the current status and facility workers' perception of wandering space and their job-satisfaction were examined. Collected data of 133 respondents were used for analysis. Data were processed with the SPSS 18.0 program, and such analytic techniques as frequency, percentage, mean, multiple response analysis, chi-square test and correlation analysis were carried out. The problems of physical environment of wandering space for the elderly with dementia: First, it is urgent to establish wandering space. Second, thoughtlessly installed chairs in the corridor impeded wandering behaviors. Third, the grips installed in the corridor space were irregular, thus causing inconvenience for wandering behaviors. Thus making residents' use of it difficult. In order to improve these problems, it is necessary to newly or additionally establish wandering space and modify the location of chairs or establish alcoves, thus reducing impedimentary elements for wandering behaviors. Providing a proper wandering space is important for facility residents. And it is also important for facility workers to manage facility residents.
