Social environmental factors that predict changes in ADL and long-term care needs among older adults

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15847
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Hygiene and public health
• Research Institution: National Cancer Center Japan (2018-2020); The University of Tokyo (2017)
• Principal Investigator: SAITO JUNKO 国立研究開発法人国立がん研究センター, 社会と健康研究センター, 研究員 (30782354)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We combined data from Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES) and long-term care insurance data to examine the association between socio-environmental factors (frequency of outings and the presence of and changes in the provision of social support) and subsequent changes in the level and pattern of long-term care needs. We found that men with fewer outings were more likely to belong to the pattern of being persistently disabled, and women who provided social support to others had a smaller rate of deterioration in their subsequent functional decline. The results suggest that interventions that support the social participation and proactive support of the elderly in the community, such as the provision of places to visit, may be effective in preventing deterioration after the elderly are certified as long-term care.

Free Research Field

公衆衛生

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の意義は、豊富な社会経済的データをもつ大規模高齢者パネルデータ(JAGES)と公的介護保険データを結合することで、社会環境要因と要介護度の時系列変化との関連分析が可能となり、国が推進する介護予防のための通いの場の充実や社会参加の促進が、要介護認定の予防だけでなく、要介護期間が短く要介護度が低いパターンを増やせる可能性を示したことである。