Fiscal Years (FY) 2006-2008 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Creative Basic Research (B)）
"Gender and Market Analysis Regarding Japan-style Care Policies and Reorganization of the Caring Relationship"
Representative Researcher: Harumi Sasatani
Research Aim
In the present research, the development of aged care policies in Japan are taken up from three perspectives: "caring (the mutual giving and receiving of care between the caregiver and the person receiving care)," gender, and market mechanisms; here, clarification is being made of characteristics and problem points thereof, as well ascertainment of specific individual effects brought about by policy developments within a wide variety of multiple caring sites. Via a critical analysis of the actual status of the process of reorganization of the caring relationship both outside of and within the framework of today's Long-term Care Insurance system and its drastic revision, it is thought that proposals can be made regarding the establishment of even better caring relationships.
Research History
<FY 2006>
Together with the collection of materials concerning Japan-style care policies for aged persons and research of overseas documentation, in order to ascertain the effects on caring for aged persons of the revised Long-term Care Insurance system, hearings-based surveys were performed of staff employees working at several Local Inclusive Support Centers in the Kanto region and Hokkaido.
<FY 2007>
As a domestic Japan survey, in order to clarify the effects on "at-home care" of system revisions, an interviews-based survey was performed in Hokkaido of system users, families (caregivers), home-helpers, and care managers.
Further, as an overseas survey, survey was performed of novel trends in Northern Europe (Finland), advanced countries in terms of social welfare for aged persons. In interviews of employees of independent administrative entities and other specialists, questions were focused especially on the aims and effects of a variety of policies that are related to how best to provide Japanese aged persons and disabled persons care into the future; such policies included preventative care policies, support for family caregivers ("carer's care"), reform of policies for the education and training of care workers and novel qualifications creation, etc.
Fiscal Years (FY) 2006-2008 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Creative Basic Research (C)）
"Research concerning the Care Provision System for Aged Persons of Local Inclusive Support Centers Whose Main Focus is 'Household Tasks' (Housework) Care"
Representative Researcher: Shizuko Nagata
Research Aim
The aim of the present research is to evaluate and verify the meaning of "household task (housework) assistance" within home-helper services responsible for the at-home care of aged persons, and to search for [optimal] methods of aged care provision systems for local inclusive support centers.
Research History
<FY 2006>
As a pilot survey, a hearings-based survey was performed in Hokkaido mainly with users and helpers. As results, it was confirmed that care demands should be linked to daily life, including aging, living environments, living conditions, system changes, etc., and it was clarified that "housework" should be incorporated as a part of such services. Further, analysis was made of the effects of the revised Long-term Care Insurance system as manifested by persons making the transition to the new "preventative assistance payments"; here, investigation was made of the value of "housework" care, and an overview could be made of the current situation as demanded by inclusive lifestyle support.
<FY 2007>
A survey was performed with the main survey field being Yubari City (Hokkaido), which has become an organization for fiscal reconstruction. It was learned that, here, such things as cutbacks in the public caregiving system as well as changes in lifestyle environments and in lifestyle conditions are now showing their impact on "housework" care for and the lifestyles of aged persons. Valuable perspectives were gained regarding how to find the optimal courses to be adopted for "housework" care of aged persons requiring care and of the inclusive lifestyle support system.
Fiscal Years (FY) 2006-2008 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Creative Basic Research (C)）
"Experimental Research concerning Changes within Caring Relationships Accompanying Revision of the Long-term Care Insurance System, and Response Methods Thereto"
Representative Researcher: Rie Yamanoi
Research Aim
The aim of the present research is to clarify, experimentally via qualitative and quantitative research methods, changes in caring relationships accompanying the revision of the Long-term Care Insurance system implemented from FY 2006, with the focus on the preventative care management newly introduced therein.
Research History
<FY 2006>
In regards to support provided to enable users to perform activities under their own powers and abilities, towards the accomplishment of "care prevention" which is a novel ideal under the revision of the Long-term Care Insurance system, as well as to determine effects on users of this revision, a site-visitation-type, interviews-based survey was performed of care managers at independent administrative corporations and at Local Inclusive Support Centers; these interviews were performed on the basis of trends in various foreign countries and [the results of] an analysis of documentation.
<FY 2007>
A site-visitation-type, interviews-based survey was performed of Care Insurance users and family caregivers, and of service-provision entities (private companies, etc.). As results, clarification was made of effects of the revision of the Long-term Care Insurance system on users, family caregivers, care managers, and service-provision entities, while firmly being grounded on research trends concerning how caregiving systems in various foreign countries are impacting care management and the caring relationship.