4 大都市における高齢者の社会的孤立と社会保障・社会福祉の課題 : 東京都港区のひとり暮らし高齢者の生活実態を中心に(テーマ別分科会4=変貌する地域社会と社会保障の今日的課題,II テーマ別分科会=報告論文と座長報告)

抄録

The main objective of this paper is to ascertain the number of elderly who live in isolation and to gain a clear understanding of their living conditions. According to my investigation of the elderly (over 65 years old) living alone in Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 30 percent are living in isolation and face various difficulties. In case of 40 percent of this age-group, the annual income is only two million yen, which is equivalent to the benefits normally provided by public assistance. Only 12.7 percent of this group receive public assistance. The elderly who live in isolation often have inadequate access to information and are unable to make appropriate decisions regarding social welfare services. It is clear that the quantity and the seriousness of these social isolation problems cannot be bypassed when we consider the needs of the elderly and what social welfare services should be provided.