A survey by a foundation under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare found that one in four home helpers and other home-visit care workers are 65 years of age or older.

The fact that the home-visit care site, where labor shortages are particularly serious, is supported by elderly helpers has become clear.

This survey is conducted every October by the Long-term Care Labor Stability Center, which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, targeting people working at long-term care establishments and long-term care workers nationwide.



When asked how many employees were 65 years old or older in the survey last year (2nd year of Reiwa), out of the total of 196,000 employees of about 8700 business establishments who answered, 65 years old or older The number of people was 24,149, accounting for 12.3% of the total.



By occupation, physical therapists and occupational therapists had the lowest ratio at 1.9%, while home helpers and other home-visit care workers had the highest ratio at 25.6%, indicating that one in four people is 65 years of age or older. I did.



Approximately 80% of the business establishments answered that the number of home-visit long-term care workers was "very short", "insufficient", or "slightly short".



It has been pointed out that home-visit long-term care workers have a particularly serious labor shortage among long-term care workers due to the large number of non-regular employment and low income, and the fact that they are supported by elderly helpers has become clear.

"Support for raising nursing care fees, which is difficult to choose due to low salary"

One person who analyzed the survey results, Associate Professor Tatsuaki Takano of Toyo University, said, "While the baby boomer generation will become the late-stage elderly and the need for long-term care will increase rapidly, the working-age population will continue to decline, the same as before. It is quite difficult to secure a long-term care worker by the method. In particular, home-visit long-term care requires a high degree of specialization, but the salary is lower than other long-term care workers, making it difficult for young people to choose. There may be situations where the elderly's desire to continue living at home cannot be fulfilled. "



He added, "In addition to raising nursing care fees and providing management support, it is necessary to publicly build a career advancement system and create an environment where young people want to work."