Factors associated with reducing the Tojikomori for potentially dependent elderly

The Kaigoyobou Keizokuteki Hyouka Bunseki Shien Jigyou of the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry

Abstract

  The purpose of this study was to determine factors for reducing the Tojikomori for potentially dependent elderly. The definition of the Tojikomori was going out not more than once a week. The participants were Tojikomori individuals with scores corresponding to the 16th item in the basic checklist from the database. This item was collected in the Kaigoyobou Keizokuteki Hyouka Bunseki Shien Jigyou of the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry during the first investigation. At the one-year follow up, the subjects were divided into the improved group (n=168) and unimproved group (n=106). The basic checklist had other risks requiring care including “functional improvement of the musculoskeletal system”, “prevention and support for dementia”, and “prevention and support for depression”. Approximately 80% of the Tojikomori overlapped with the need for functional improvement of the musculoskeletal system. Approximately 50% of the Tojikomori group overlapped with the need for prevention and support for dementia, or depression. The result of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that having supports for hospital visit resulted in higher cognitive activity and participation in ambulant type prevention programs for long-term care (functional improvement of the musculoskeletal system),which contributed to reducing the Tojikomori of the older individuals. Participation in the home-visiting type prevention programs for long-term care (functional improvement of the musculoskeletal system) contributed negatively to reducing the Tojikomori. As shown above, it was suggested that more active ambulant type prevention programs for long-term care and consideration of the new program in the visiting type prevention programs for long-term care were required in order to reduce the Tojikomori for potentially dependent elderly.