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ABSTRACT: Objective: To identify predictors for depression among family caregivers of community-dwelling older people under the Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI) program in Japan through a large-scale population-based survey. Method: All 5938 older people with disabilities, using domiciliary services under the LTCI in the city of Toyama, and their family caregivers participated in this study. Caregiver depression was defined as scores of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Other caregiver measures included age, sex, hours spent caregiving, relationship to the care recipient, income adequacy, living arrangement, self-rated health, and work status. Care recipient measures included age, sex, level of functional disability, and severity of dementia. The data from 4128 pairs of the care recipients and their family caregivers were eligible for further analyses. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the predictors associated with being at risk of clinical depression (CES-D of ≥16). Results: Overall, 34.2% of caregivers scored ≥16 on the CES-D. The independent predictors for depression by logistic regression analysis were six caregiver characteristics (female, income inadequacy, longer hours spent caregiving, worse subjective health, and co-residence with the care recipient) and one care-recipient characteristic (moderate dementia). Conclusion: This is one of the first population-based examinations of caregivers of older people who are enrolled in a national service system that provides affordable access to services. The results highlighted the importance of monitoring caregivers who manifest the identified predictors to attenuate caregiver depression at the population level under the LTCI.
Aging and Mental Health 04/2013; · 1.37 Impact Factor
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Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 11/2012; 60(11):2170-2172. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 11/2012; 27(11):1203-4. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 12/2011; 59(12):2388-90. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The issue of driving cessation for dementia patients is one of the urgent public health priorities in Japan and is often complicated, with family or social barriers yet to be sufficiently addressed. Because the possibility of dementia or family caregiving can befall anyone, we focused on the disparity in people's perceptions of driving as possible barriers. The present study aimed to assess perceptions of driving among the general public and examine differences in perceptions based on age and driving status.
A survey was conducted in a sample of the general public aged 40 and over in Japan. Respondents were 1010 people who received a self-administered questionnaire that included questions regarding perceptions about driving and sociodemographic factors.
The drivers that participated in this study tended to highly agree that 'driving is a "right" which we all deserve', compared with the non-drivers. The most common reason for reluctance to stop driving among drivers was the possible loss of personal mobility. Apart from transportation, older drivers were more likely than younger drivers to value the qualitative aspects of driving, for example, driving was viewed as 'a motivating factor in my life'.
These disparities in the general public's perceptions about driving may be possible family or social barriers to driving cessation in the case of drivers with dementia. Our findings also suggest that when addressing the need for driving retirement, not only mobility but also the qualitative aspects of driving be paid more attention.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 12/2010; 25(12):1239-45. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 10/2010; 58(10):2048-9. · 3.74 Impact Factor
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International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 09/2010; 25(9):896-9. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 10/2008; 23(9):987-9. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of the present study was to examine factors related to potentially harmful behaviors (PHB) by family caregivers towards their older family members.
Four hundred and twelve pairs of disabled older adults and their family caregivers participated in the study. All of these disabled older adults were users of visiting nursing services under the public Long-Term Care insurance system, who resided in one of the eight catchment areas of visiting nursing services in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The caregivers were asked to complete questionnaires in relation to their PHB towards their older family members, caregiver burden, patient-caregiver kinship, behavioral disturbances of their older adult, age and sex. Visiting nurses obtained the following information regarding the older adults: the severity of dementia; the severity of physical impairment; age and sex.
More than 30% of the caregivers admitted PHB towards their older family members. The most frequently reported PHB included verbal aggression (16.8%) and ignoring (13.6%). A logistic regression analysis revealed that adult children (OR = 2.69, 95%CI = 1.23-5.89, p = 0.013) and caregivers of disabled older people with behavioral disturbances (OR = 3.61, 95%CI = 1.65-7.90, p < 0.01) were more likely to show PHB.
In the present study, PHB towards the older people by family caregivers was associated with patients' behavioral disturbances and patient-caregiver kinship, i.e. an adult child as a caregiver. These findings should be taken into account when planning strategies to prevent PHB by family members.
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 04/2007; 22(3):250-7. · 2.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to examine the mental health and related factors with family caregivers for the elderly in special-care nursing homes for the aged.
We conducted a questionnaire survey among family caregivers for elderly living in three special-care nursing homes in Tokyo. The questionnaire included factors from the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) pertaining to family caregivers, the elderly, and the relationships between them. The GHQ-28 was used to measure the mental health of the caregivers and a logistic regression model was applied for the analysis.
Of the 145 family caregivers surveyed, 59 (40.7%) exhibited low mental health (GHQ-28> or = 7). The logistic regression analysis revealed that family caregivers with low mental health had lower social support (OR: 0.10 (0.03-0.29)) and had longer visiting times (OR: 5.80 (1.79-18.82)).
The results suggested that many family caregivers for elderly persons in institutions may have poor mental health and that it is necessary to provide them with support. It is concluded that self-help groups for families and the promotion of communication between the elderly and their family caregivers might be effective for this purpose.
[Nippon kōshū eisei zasshi] Japanese journal of public health 05/2005; 52(5):399-410.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined factors related to the frequency and duration of family visits to elderly residents of nursing homes in Japan. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 299 family members of residents of three nursing homes in Tokyo. Almost all family members visited residents more than once a month, and more than three quarters stayed for more than 1h during each visit. These findings confirm that family involvement with the elderly is maintained even after admission to a nursing home. Multiple regression analysis revealed the variables related to a higher frequency and duration of visits. Some factors related to frequent or long visits such as the requirement of higher care or the ability to remember family visits were similar to the findings of other studies conducted in western countries, yet the results need to be understood in a Japanese cultural context. Other factors such as the gender of the visitors, distance to the nursing home, and sentiment about placement were thought to be related to the unique cultural norms of family caregiving in Japan. These findings will be useful for developing effective methods to assist nursing home residents and their families in Japan.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics 45(1):73-86. · 1.45 Impact Factor
