Minimal requirements and the present circumstances in terminal care of aged person at home - Application of qualitative study -

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(Objective) The aim of this study was to investigate the minimal requirements for successfully conducting the terminal care of aged person at home and also to recognize the present circumstances of this field in Nagasaki-city, Japan.(Subjects and Methods) After recruitment of persons who had been providing the terminal care to aged person at home, semi-structured interviews were conducted in each recruiter. The basic questions of the interview include average daily activities, cognitive abilities, mood, communicating abilities, symptoms and social circumstances of the terminal care recipient. All interviews were taped and then analyzed.(Results and Conclusion) Most of the care providers were old females whose age at the start of the care were ranged from 46 to 80 years old and had provided the care for 3 to 8 years. Terminal care recipients were consisted of almost equal numbers of males and females whose age at the start of the care were ranged from 75 to 92 years old. Most of the recipients had been gradually, not suddenly, losing their independence. Further, their upper arm and swallowing functions and communication abilities were relatively well preserved until the later stage. Characteristically, the providers and recipients were both optimistic and endurant. Their economical situations were in over the average and could afford the care instruments for providers' convenience and even the remodeling of the house for the recipient. Socially, it is fundamental to have a good access to a neighbor hospital and a visiting nursing care institute. The recipients were provided various social services including a bathing service at home by visiting nurses and, importantly, could be in and out of hospital easily whenever they were needed. Nevertheless, anxiety of the providers on continuation of the care at home had been growing toward the end stage of this care.