In this third wave, some people are refraining from using long-term care services because they are afraid of being infected with the new coronavirus.
Last year, there were a number of elderly people whose physical and cognitive functions declined due to refraining from use, and there is concern that these effects will spread again.
Refrain from using "I'm afraid to get infected with the new corona"
A woman in her 80s, who lives alone in Tokyo, has been going to the day service once a week to exercise and enjoy interacting with other users.
However, since last month when the infection spread, I have refrained from using the day service and have almost stopped going out.
It is said that the muscle strength is weakened due to the extremely reduced opportunity to move the body, and it is gradually becoming difficult to walk.
I also have a heart condition, but I am not going to the hospital.
The woman said, "I'm afraid of getting infected with the new corona rather than getting sick without going to a day service or hospital, so I'm not using it."
Hiromi Makino, the person in charge of the home-visit nursing care facility that dispatches home helpers to women's homes, points out that the "use refusal" that occurred one after another last year has begun to occur in this third wave.
For those who refrain from using socks, "cognitive function" may occur due to deterioration of "physical function" such as being unable to wear socks by themselves, feeling stuffy just by climbing stairs, or not having conversation with people. It is said that there is also a decline in.
Of the elderly people in charge of Makino's office, two are refraining from using day services, etc., which is not as widespread as last year, but Makino said, "The number of infected people is increasing and we are getting closer to ourselves. There is a possibility that the number of refraining from using the service will increase in the future because some elderly people feel that they are using it. I want you to pay more attention to the issues of. "
Approximately 80% of business establishments "There were elderly people who refrained from using" Survey as of the end of July last year
In the “outpatient care service” where elderly people go to the facility to receive support, such as day service, “use refrain” continued in various places last year.
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare at more than 1,700 business establishments nationwide, as of the end of July last year, 81.7% of business establishments answered that "there were elderly people who refrained from using the service."
In addition, according to a survey conducted by Professor Yasuhiro Yuki of Shukutoku University in May last year on more than 500 long-term care workers engaged in home care, 62% of the respondents said, "There are cases where mental and physical functions are impaired due to refraining from using it. I answered.