Citation

Yuhara E. J. Soc. Welf. Nihon Fukushi Univ. 2011; (125): 41-65.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Nihon Fukushi University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Since 2006, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has conducted surveys investigating "cases of death due to abuse, etc." among the elderly. Since 2007, the National Police Agency has also publicized the number of cases of crime directly motivated by or resulting from "nursing fatigue." Efforts have been made to improve and enrich care services since the introduction of long-term nursing care insurance in 2000. However, these surveys reveal no remarkable tendencies toward decrease in the amount of care-related murder cases of the elderly or double suicide committed by family caregivers. To prevent such cases, it is vital to provide support not only to the receivers but also to the providers of care, pay particular attention to early discovery of depression in caregivers so as to administer necessary treatment, and facilitate the provision of concrete advice concerning how to deal with the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Furthermore, it is imperative to ensure that family caregivers do not become isolated from society as a result of having taken on the responsibility of providing care. Therefore, an urgent task is to encourage awareness of the importance of emotional ties with those we care about, and establish a caregiver support system and a legislative foundation that enables care to be provided without difficulty.

Language: ja