The relationship between the residential status and social isolation of elderly people was investigated by comparing the percentage of socially isolated people and the state of social relationships between elderly people living in housing complexes, those living in apartments other than housing complexes and those living in detached houses in Wako City in Saitama Prefecture. In July 2012, a self-report questionnaire survey was conducted, to which 8,191 people responded (response rate: 73.3%). Respondents were classified into single-living elderly and elderly living together with someone. Binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with social isolation as dependent variables. There were several major findings. 1) In the case of elderly people living alone, those living in rental apartments other than housing complexes are particularly isolated (38.2%). 2) In the case of elderly people living together with someone, those living in rental apartments other than housing complexes (37.9%), those living in rental housing complexes (36.8%) and those living in condominium housing complexes (35.0%) are more isolated than the others. 3) Elderly people living in rental apartments are more isolated than the others, even after controlling for other factors.

  The purpose of this study was to clarify support method to residents in home for elderly at the time of the facilities move. The visit interview investigation was carried out for 25 residents. The questionnaire was depression “GDS5”, loneliness “AOKLS”, relationship for others, time to spend in a private room. The survey was carried out four times, two weeks before the move, two weeks, one month, and three month after the move.

  About depression and relationship for others, it was not seen in the statistical significant difference through an investigation period. AOKLS scale rose after the move, but decreased three month later. The residents felt loneliness, temporarily. On the other hand, to spend in a private room, it continued to increase after the move.

  It was suggested that importance to work not only preparation before the move, but also ensure time to build an interpersonal relationship and spend on any place than private room, intentionally.

  This study was carried out to clarify infection control measures in place at bedroom sharing-type nursing homes. A mail-in questionnaire survey was delivered to personnel in charge of infection control at randomly selected nursing homes in Japan (Number of valid responses: 203/ Response Rate : 20.3%).

  The majority of facilities surveyed reported having Infection Control Committees which met regularly. However, 111 facilities (54.7%) reported that individual nurses rather than committees monitored the residents’ health conditions. Facilities reporting experience with the outbreak of infection reported conducting infection control rounds with greater frequency (p＜0.05). A total of 175 facilities (86.2%) indicated that their infection control manual was suitable for the facility. However, 62 facilities (30.5%) did not stipulate specific work flows for infection. A total of 172 facilities (84.7%) reported conducting infection control seminars for new workers.

  The above results suggest that, while infection control systems have been developed at nursing homes, individual facilities must work on specific measures that assume the onset of infection.

  The purpose of this study was to provide normative data for the Japanese version of the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5-J).

  We surveyed a random sample of community-dwelling older Japanese adults (aged 65-84 years) in this study and used data from 1,251 participants (596 men and 655 women). Mental health states were measured using the WHO-5-J, which comprises 5 items that are rated along a 6-point Likert-type scale, to assess everyday emotional states. We also employed conventional mental health scales (the K6 and LSIK) and assessed socio-economic and health variables to examine their relationships with the WHO-5-J.

  Standard psychometric methods revealed the following: the WHO-5-J was confirmed to have factorial and concurrent validity as well as excellent reliability; a negatively skewed and slightly platykurtic WHO-5-J score distribution, a significant age difference, and no significant sex difference were demonstrated; scores for the highest age group (aged 80-84 years) were lower than those for the younger groups; and WHO-5-J scores were moderately correlated with subjective health status, health literacy, and other variables.

  This study provided normative data for the WHO-5-J and confirmed that this scale has good psychometric properties. Results indicate that the WHO-5-J is a useful measure of mental health states in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.