Abstract
In Japan, where the population is rapidly aging, it is considered important to positively intervene in the lives of independent elderly people to prevent their degenerating into a state whereby care by others is necessary for the activities of daily living. Such action is called “care prevention.” Although various places in Japan have undertaken measures for care prevention, at times total failure has been the result.
The main goal of Kitamimaki-village in Nagano prefecture has been to “construct a system in the village so as to prevent elderly people from becoming bed-ridden or demented.” In 2000, the village began a series of measures “to longitudinal comprehend the overall physical function of individual elderly people and to actively provide them with a care prevention program according to the need and health condition of each person comprehended as above”. Three years have passed since the beginning of this effort.
We previously began to assess the “Good Walker's Index” for care prevention in Kitamimaki-village. In relation to this effort, in the present study we examined the difficulties in efficiently and effectively implementing this program.
We found that in order to realize the target of the village “to prevent elderly people from becoming bed-ridden or demented,” priority should be given to directly appeal to elderly people, who are prone to remain indoors. To present a vivid and favorable impression of care prevention also was found to be necessary. For these purposes, we should accept the help of programs and activities in other institutions as an opportunity to distribute information on care prevention and continue to take measures for care prevention in collaboration with various groups and organizations.
