Abstract
Half a century has passed since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China, and there is an urgent need to consider home care for elderly Chinese returnees in Japan. The purpose of this study was to clarify problems and needs in home care support for Chinese returnees as ascertained from caregivers’ experiences. Participants were representatives of 94 long-term care insurance service offices in the Kanto region that were able to provide care services in Chinese, and a questionnaire survey was conducted by mail. Seventeen facilities that provide long-term care services to Chinese returnees now or within the past 2 years were included in the analysis. 8 (47%) of the service offices were “day-care centers” or “communitybased day-care centers”, and 10 (59%) were in Tokyo. The number of offices with “less than 5” Chinese-speaking staff was 13 (76%). The major home care problems were differences in language and culture, and four categories were extracted: [weak community living infrastructure], [mental and cognitive problems], [family caregiving difficulties], and [difficulties in providing formal care]. Various [requests for enhanced home care support] was identified, including requests for increasing Chinese-speaking staff and care facilities, as well as for more financial support from the government.
