A Study on Home Care and Home Visiting Nursing in Japan

일본의 재가간호 및 방문간호 -새로운 개호보험제도의 실시를 앞두고-

Japan has been prepared for aging society from 1970. In 1970, the percentage of distribution of population of 65 years old and over was 7.1%. It is similar to present percentile of the elderly in Korea. Therefore, it will be needed to study about home care and home visiting nursing in Japan at present. This study was aimed to prepare the fundamental documents for home care nursing in Korea and to know the background of new health care system of Long-term Care Insurance in Japan, by studying home care and home visiting nursing in Japan. With the continuing aging of the population, especially the increase in the number of latter stage elderly, it is predicted that there will be an increase in the number of the elderly who are bedridden and suffering senile dementia. To ensure that these people will be able to continue living in the communities and homes they are accustomed to, surrounded by their families and neighbors, Japan substantially improve and expand in-home services. There were also long-term effort to reach the level of services outlined in the Gold Plan and the New Gold Plan within the decade between FY 1991 and FY 1999 in the field of health care and welfare. Under this plan, the most noticeable change was occurred in home care, home was permitted as the field of care and visiting nursing was established in law. Through this 10- Year Strategy for Promotion of Health and Welfare Services for the Aged, many problems have been improved and solved, but some problems remained such as inadequate service supply and consumption of medical insurance for the elderly. Japan will be a society composed 25% of elderly people of total population in 2020, and it will be soon faced with a shortage of welfare and medical facilities and manpower. As for equalizing the benefits and cost burdens, and other future arrangements for health care and welfare, Long-term Care insurance system was established in 1994. This system will be enforced from April 2000 and use present facilities and services. To know home care and home visiting nursing in Japan, we need to consider present conditions well and to take notice of changes and measures to cope with an aging society continuously.