States and Issues of Overseas Nurses and Care Workers at Long-Term Care Facilities for the Elderly in Japan

Abstract

　The purpose of this study was to examine the states and issues of foreign nurses and care workers working at long-term care facilities (LTCF) for the elderly. A survey of nursing/care managers at LTCFs in the Kanto region in Japan was conducted, using a questionnaire about foreign staff that asked about the experience of hiring them, their nationalities, job titles, and lengths of employment, the preparations taken prior to employing them, problems and difficulties related to employing them, and positive aspects of working with them. Of 1,830 questionnaires posted, 21% received valid responses.
　108 facilities (27.4%) had experience in employing foreign staff. 85 helpers (35.0%), 75 non-certified care workers (30.9%), 18 certified care workers (7.4%), 42 nurse aides (17.3%), 15 candidates of certified care workers via the Economic Partnership Agreement scheme (6.2%), 3 assistant nurses (1.2%), and 1 nurse (0.7%) worked in the responded facilities. Their nationalities were Philippines, China, South Korea, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and Peru.
　Reasons listed for employing foreign staff related to shortage of staff, as well as applicants' nursing/caregiving experience, Japanese language skills, good personalities, and competence. Problems mentioned included lack of Japanese communication skills, differences in cultures and customs, and relationships with other staff and residents. Respondents described the positive influence of foreign staff on their Japanese co-workers' attitudes toward work, opportunities to develop their teaching skills as mentors, and experience with different cultures. Facilities with experience hiring foreign staff were more likely to answer that they might recruit foreign staff in the future (chi-square test, p<0.01).
　In order for foreign nurses and care workers and Japanese staff to recognize and respect each other' differences, the development of individual cultural sensitivity and competence is essential. In order to encourage cultural competence among LTCF staff, the study suggests that guidelines and programs for improving cultural competence be developed, and that the sharing of experience between Japanese and foreign staff members be encouraged.