Empirical Research on End-of-Life Care at Health Service Facilities for the Elderly

本研究的目的是调查日本各地的408家老年保健服务机构(Kaigo Rojin Hoken Shisetsu)，以了解设施使用者在生命末期得到何种照顾。在408家机构中，有66家做出了回应，并就以下问题进行了分析调查：使用者是如何死亡的；为垂死的人提供了什么样的护理；在设施中花费的时间；以及国家政府实施老年护理和援助保险前后的差异。虽然老年人保健服务设施不起到临终关怀机构的作用，但66个机构中有33个答复说，它们充当了这类设施。人们一直活到生命的末期的例子很多，特别是在东京。在实施老年人护理和援助保险前后，提供的护理种类没有差异，但将老年人的所有护理交给机构照顾的家庭数量正在增加。

The objective of this study was to investigate 408 health service facilities for the elderly (Kaigo Rojin Hoken Shisetsu) in all parts of Japan to find out what kinds of care are given to facility users when they reach the terminal stage of life. Out of 408 facilities, 66 responded, and an analytical survey was conducted on the following matters: how the users died; what kinds of care were given for the dying; the length of time spent at facility; and difference before and after the implementation of the national government's Insurance for Care and Assistance for the Elderly. Although health service facilities for the elderly do not function as institutions for terminal stage care, 33 out of 66 responded that they served as such facilities. Many cases where people lived until the terminal phase of life were seen, especially in Tokyo. No differences were observed in the kinds of care given before and after the implementation of the Insurance for Care and Assistance for the Elderly, but the number of families who leave all care of the elderly to facilities is increasing.