Self-support of the Elderly and the Role of Local Communities on the Isolated Islands

本研究项目的目的是调查鹿儿岛县奄美大岛南端的濑户内町的角间岛、宇惠岛和四老岛上的老年人的生活状况和当地社区的状况，并考虑如何建立社会服务体系，使老年人能够在他们生活了一年的地方活蹦乱跳地度过余生。长期以来，奄美群岛由于地处偏远，在地理和社会经济方面都处于不利地位，但却无法阻止人口的减少，岛上的当地社区正在老化，失去社会权力。本研究首先收集了三个岛屿的医疗和社会服务资料，然后对这些孤岛上的生活问题进行了定性和定量数据，通过访谈和问卷调查，了解老年人的生活状况和社区状况。结果表明，老年人在社会支持环境下生活得很活跃，但在孤岛生活和使用隔海医疗和社会服务方面存在很多困难。我们建议，老年人应采取以下措施：社区采取以下行动：（1）首先在这些岛屿上开始提供午餐服务。（2）在每个岛屿建立为老年人提供社会服务的基地。（3）与居民和当地政府合作制定社区的社会福利计划。（4）与邻村合作建设社区社会福利体系。

The purpose of this research project was to investigate the living conditions of the elderly and the state of local communities on Kakeroma, Uke and Yoro islands of Setouchi town which is located at the south end of Amami-Oshima Island of Kagoshima Prefecture, and to consider how the system of social service should be in order for the elderly to spend the rest of their life lively in the place where they have been living for a long time.Amami Islands, which have suffered geographical and socio-economical disadvantages due to their remoteness, could not stop the depopulation and the local communities on those islands are getting older and losing social power.The research began with collecting material of the medical and social services of three islands and then, qualitative and quantitative data on the living problems on those isolated islands, the state of the Life of the aged people and the state of the local communities were gathered through the interviews and questionnaire surveys.The results suggested that the aged people lived lively under the supportive sociable circumstances but that they had a lot of difficulties in living on the isolated islands and in using the medical and social services across the sea.We proposed that those communities do the following : (1)Start delivery service of lunch on those islands as their top priority. (2)Establish bases on each island for providing the elderly with social services. (3)Make the community's social welfare plan in cooperation with the residents and the local government. (4)Build the community's social welfare system in cooperation with neighboring villages.