Abstract. Relocated and non relocated chronic elderly patients alike show low privacy preference, contrary to expectation. Little change in privacy preferences after relocation suggest other dynamic factors. Consideration is given to the feedback between two key factors: 1) low privacy preferences among institutionalized elderly patients and 2) limited options for privacy available to chronic elderly patients. in old age institutions. Low privacy preference scores remain remarkably stable regardless of such factors as structure and familiarity of the physical environment, patient's length of stay, state of health and administrative policies governing the institution.