Elderly people taking care of elderly patients puts a heavy burden on both sides. There is an urgent need for local governments and other entities to work together to strengthen support for senior citizens.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's 2019 Basic Survey of Living Conditions, households in which caregivers and care recipients are aged 65 or older account for 60% of homes in which someone in the household is providing care for a cohabitant. In 33% of such households, caregivers and care recipients are aged 75 or older. Both figures are record highs.
In addition to elderly couples, there are many cases of elderly people caring for elderly parents. In some cases, both the caregiver and the person requiring care have dementia.
Elderly caregivers tend to suffer from physical and mental strain. With such a heavy toll on both mind and body, both caregivers and care recipients are at risk of collapsing. There have been many cases in which caregivers have reached a dead end, leading to such tragic incidents as abuse and murder. The seriousness of the situation must be understood.
Stress on caregivers may have increased as a result of the novel coronavirus epidemic. Some municipalities and non-profit organizations have set up forums for caregivers to learn how to care for elderly people and talk about their concerns. Such efforts must be expanded.
People in need can receive help with bathing and eating for a small fee under the nursing care insurance system. The fact that many families do not use the system despite the need for such support cannot be ignored.
About 30% of elderly people who were abused by their family members were not receiving such services, according to a survey on elderly abuse. There may be a reluctance to use such services among people who do not want others to know about their home situations or those who think they are able to handle the situation on their own.
Changes in a caregiver's physical condition, as evidenced by such signs as an accumulation of trash, are more likely to be noticed by outside observers.
In cooperation with the municipal Social Welfare Council, the Hanamaki city government in Iwate Prefecture sends counselors to visit households with elderly residents to listen to the concerns of not only care recipients but also the caregivers. Other municipal governments should consider this approach.
The procedures for certification and application for support services under the nursing care insurance scheme are complicated and the support provided varies. Municipal governments should explain the system in an easy-to-understand and meticulous manner to increase the use of the services.
The key is to increase the number of care workers and improve the quality of care. There is a vicious cycle of staff overload and turnover due to labor shortages. The government should steadily improve the treatment of care workers.
It is also necessary to cooperate with volunteers and nonprofit organizations in providing support for people's daily lives, such as garbage disposal and food delivery. Local governments should establish a system in cooperation with various parties to prevent the isolation of caregivers in households.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10, 2020)
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