Mobility function of the elderly living with their children and its relation to the home health care system in Tokyo

Abstract

Most elderly in Japan prefer living with their children once their spouse passes away. In comparison with western countries, home health care systems have developed quite differently in Japan. The traditional practice of the elderly living with their children is, however, changing. In 1989 we carried out a mail questionnaire survey focused on the relationship between mobility functions of the elderly living in Tokyo and their rate of living with family members. The subjects for the present analysis were 2368 widows and widowers. Under the group category ‘independent in long walks’, 72·8% were living with their families. With a decrease in mobility functions, this percentage rose to 81·1 and 84·6, although it decreased to 50·9 in the group with severely impaired mobility functions. The need to develop effective social services for families housing their parents is discussed.

Key Words:

• aged
• Activities of Daily Living
• urbanization
• family

Additional information

Notes on contributors

K. Nakamura

It is with great sadness that we have to inform the readership of the Journal that shortly after completing the final editorial work on this Special Issue, Professor Kalman Jacob Mann was seriously injured in a car accident and subsequently died.

Professor Mann was responsible for establishing the two Hadassah Hospitals and Community Health Centres in Jerusalem and for the past 20 years headed the Presidium of Yad Sarah, Israel's largest community based, volunteer operated organization which provides a spectrum of free or nominal cost home care services nation-wide.

We offer our condolences to his family and friends, and trust that this Special Issue stands as a testament to his work in the field.