Presentation Information
[O-5-02]The Challenge of Providing Elderly Care for Foreign Residents in Japan
*Akihito Uezato1,6, Kimie Fujikawa2, Miki Marutani3, Eiko Takaoka4, Yoshifumi Sugiyama5 (1.International University of Health and Welfare(Japan), 2.Matsumoto Collage of Nursing(Japan), 3.National Institute of Public Health(Japan), 4.Sophia University(Japan), 5.The Jikei University School of Medicine(Japan), 6.Institute of Science Tokyo(Japan))
Keywords:
Japan,elderly care,foreign residents
As of the end of 2024, 5.7% of foreign residents in Japan were aged 65 or older, totaling about 214,000 individuals—more than three times the number in 2009. With different cultural backgrounds and limited Japanese proficiency, they often face challenges when receiving home-based care.
This study explored these challenges and the needs involved in service provision. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with care providers—including care workers, nurses, and dentists—who had experience visiting elderly foreign residents at home. Topics included communication methods, incidents or near-misses, and emergency or disaster responses. Thematic analysis was used to identify common issues.
Results showed that cultural and behavioral differences were a core source of difficulty (e.g., unwillingness to follow recommendations). These led to problems with medical care (e.g., choosing traditional remedies) and misunderstanding of care systems (e.g., requesting tasks outside service boundaries). Language barriers, such as trouble with onomatopoeic expressions, further complicated interactions. These factors contributed to safety concerns, particularly during emergencies or public health crises, where coordination with families and hospitals often failed.
Service providers expressed a need for practical tools—manuals, cultural background information, multilingual resources—and opportunities for training and peer exchange.
With the elderly foreign population expected to grow, especially under new immigration frameworks, it is vital to build support systems that reduce the burden on providers and ensure safe, effective care in an aging, multicultural Japan.
This study explored these challenges and the needs involved in service provision. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with care providers—including care workers, nurses, and dentists—who had experience visiting elderly foreign residents at home. Topics included communication methods, incidents or near-misses, and emergency or disaster responses. Thematic analysis was used to identify common issues.
Results showed that cultural and behavioral differences were a core source of difficulty (e.g., unwillingness to follow recommendations). These led to problems with medical care (e.g., choosing traditional remedies) and misunderstanding of care systems (e.g., requesting tasks outside service boundaries). Language barriers, such as trouble with onomatopoeic expressions, further complicated interactions. These factors contributed to safety concerns, particularly during emergencies or public health crises, where coordination with families and hospitals often failed.
Service providers expressed a need for practical tools—manuals, cultural background information, multilingual resources—and opportunities for training and peer exchange.
With the elderly foreign population expected to grow, especially under new immigration frameworks, it is vital to build support systems that reduce the burden on providers and ensure safe, effective care in an aging, multicultural Japan.