An analysis of current conditions of care by the elderly for the elderly

高齢社会のなかで高齢者介護は深刻な社会問題となっている。特に「老老介護」は介護者の負担が大きく、介護疲れによる自殺や介護殺人といった悲劇を引き起こす場合がある。本研究では、老老介護の実態と介護疲れの状況及び要因を明らかにするとともに、介護者とうつとの関係を分析し、うつ傾向度に影響を及ぼす要因を探り、介護者と介護システムにおける検討課題を提示した。

Elderly care is one of the most serious issues of the day. The conditions of 'care by the elderly' are so severe that there are some cases in which caregivers commit suicide or kill their care receiver. This study aims to provide evidence of the factors in caregiver fatigue and influences on the degree of depression by way of analyzing the relationship between the actual circumstances of caregivers and depression. Several measures to produce elderly care systems which are effective for caregivers are proposed in the conclusion.