Support Issues for People with Mental Disorders in Group Homes in Japan
Author(s): Noriko Yamada, Yuriko Tanabe, Rie Tanaka, Kazumi Yajima
In Japan, group homes for people with mental disorders are accommodations affiliated with hospitals where residents can live relatively independent lives. However, the scope of their activities is limited to interactions with caretakers, hospital visits, and nearby shopping. Caretakers in such homes often provide insufficient care and commonly lack medical knowledge and skills to manage aging-related situations. Previous surveys conducted byYCU in 2008, 2013, and 2018 among the staff of a sample of such establishments in a major city revealed the challenges posed by residents’ aging and the increasing severity of their mental and physical diseases. In the 10 years between 2008 and 2018, the percentage of residents aged 60 and older increased from 25.6% to 28.6%, those who could manage their medication independently decreased from 90.8% to 78.4%, while those needing to be accompanied to medical examinations increased from 7.4% to 15.6%. These results can be used as a basis for creating a model of support by nurses and for implementing improvements in the support system, including qualified mental health nurses who can advocate for the rights of persons with mental disabilities in the community