Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of male caregivers in eight prefectures in Japan and to examine ways of providing them support based on regional characteristics.
Methods: A postal questionnaire survey was conducted from April 2013 to May 2016. The subjects of the survey were all care managers who belonged to any of the Community General Support Centers or Home Care Support Offices in the eight prefectures (Hokkaido, Iwate, Tokyo, Toyama, Shizuoka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Okinawa). The questions were designed to ask about the percentage of male caregivers and the characteristics of male caregivers and care receivers. The survey was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ishikawa Prefectural Nursing University.
Results: Our results showed that male caregivers made up 11.1% in Hokkaido, 12.4% in Iwate, 11.7% in Tokyo, 12.3% in Toyama, 13.7% in Shizuoka, 12.3% in Hiroshima, 10.5% in Nagasaki, and 10.3% in Okinawa. We have concluded that the percentages seem to be similar to the percentages of male caregivers who are not associated with care-giving companies and provide care alone. We also found that the relationships of male caregivers to their care receivers and male caregivers' family structures varied from prefecture to prefecture. There were many unmarried male caregivers in all of the prefectures who cared for a parent/senior and therefore it seemed particularly important to help them. Furthermore, the results showed the regional characteristics of male caregivers' needs and their use of the Long-Term Care Insurance System.
Conclusions: Male caregivers who care alone showed characteristics in each prefecture. Based on this evidence, it is important to take measures to support the caregiving life of husband caregivers and son caregivers.
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