2022 Volume 1 Pages 1-7
【Objective】 This study’s objective was to clarify motivations at the time of service initiation by analyzing the goals of community-dwelling older for first-time use of day-care services in Japan.【Methods】 The target population who used the day-care facility at least once and those who certified as support levels 1-2 (mild disability) and persons eligible for the services. After administering the structured goal setting, we conducted a quantitative text analysis. Relevant terms were extracted using a text-mining method and KH coder. The extracted terms were clustered in a co-occurrence network and inductively categorized and subcategorized. Bubble charts were created for care level, age, level of independence in daily living, and gender.【Results】 Participants of this study were Ninety-six subjects (mean age 79.4 years; 59 women) using day-care services provided by long-term care insurance. The goals were categorized as follows: (1) physical function improvement, (2) walking endurance improvement, (3) independence in the minimum living space necessary to maintain one’s life, (4) going out to the train station, (5) public transportation use, (6) enjoyment of social activities, and (7) exercise-related leisure activities. The bubble charts indicated that the care level and age affected the living space size, while the level of independence in daily living and gender affected the level of social activities.【Conclusion】 The day-care service users mentioned various activities as long-term goals, including social participation, physical functions, and activities aimed at maintaining their range of daily living. This study’s results can help develop effective care prevention targets.
