A Socio-Architectural View of Life in Three Homes for Old People

Abstract

Patterns of behavior observed in 3 local authority residential homes for old people are reported; these are manifestations of social stratification and inter-group conflict among residents and limitations on social contacts in the larger sitting-rooms of the homes studied. The aspects are related to the observed phenomena of persistent chair selection by individuals from among chairs maintained in rigid arrangements over time. Some implications are mentioned, and it is suggested that the problem fields revealed require interdisciplinary investigation to establish some parameters among the variables operating.