The purpose of this study was to investigate the spatial characteristics of residential and nursing units in large skilled nursing facilities for the elderly that were located in city areas, and to discuss the way for efficient unit care. For collecting the data, the researcher visited 6 facilities to make explorations and to interview the staff concerned. Most of the research facilities had systematic residential units that each unit basically had elderly private rooms and the spaces for small group. The number of elderly residents per unit was appropriate for the limit which was suggested by Kwon(2002), but the sizes of small group spaces were smaller than the standard limit($1.62m^{2}$ per resident). The nursing units were made up of nursing station, 2-4 residential units, spaces for large group of residents, hair dressing, nurse, living assistants, bathing, storage and etc. Some of them had problem in efficiency of space use because they did not have distinct usage. In conclusion, this study suggests that each floor has one nursing unit including 40 residents maximum and each nursing unit consists of 2-3 residential units that have 20 residents maximum per unit. In each residential unit, the furniture and spaces for efficient unit-care should be arranged, such as TV, dining table, kitchenette, bathroom, and rooms for living assistants. The hall type is better for the small group so that it has a transitional characteristic leading to the public spaces. The large group space needs to have clear usage such as conducting program differentiated from small group, and various furniture such as sofa, TV, table, and etc which encourage the elderly voluntary use.