Abstract
This study aimed to examine the issues faced by individuals in accessing long-term care services on the basis of the results of a survey involving users of long-term care insurance services and their families. User background factors were divided into "attributes/needs factors," "awareness/attitude factors," and "consultation behavior factors." The characteristics of each background factor were clarified and the relationship between each factor was analyzed in order to elucidate the difficulties in accessing those services experienced by users of long-term care services. The results of the analysis revealed the existence of "a third party" that affected users' opportunity to use long-term care services." In addition, a correlation was observed between the following factors: "difficulties in collecting information" and the "presence/absence of consultation with a person who has used long-term care services," "difficulties experienced when creating a care plan" and the "presence/absence of hospital admission," and "difficulties experienced when selecting a place of care" and the "presence/absence of hospital admission" and the "presence/absence of family member resistance to the use of services." This study revealed issues in access support because of "difficulties experienced while accessing services" and "opportunity to use long-term care services."
