都市近郊と中山間地域における認知症高齢者の徘徊に関する地域課題

Wandering of Elderly People with Dementia in Suburban and Mountainous Areas: Regional Issues

要旨

　目的：本研究では都市近郊と中山間地域における認知症高齢者の徘徊に関する地域課題を明確にする．

　方法：都市近郊と中山間地域を対象とし，既存資料の分析，地区踏査，認知症高齢者家族など16名と保健医療福祉職15名に対しグループ・インタビューを行った．これらのデータからキー情報を抽出し，各項目を3側面と8カテゴリにまとめた．

　結果：都市近郊の地域課題は「保健医療福祉職・住民・異業種連携の促進」，「認知症高齢者を見守る住民間の助け合いの不足」を，中山間地域では「認知症高齢者を見守る住民間の助け合いの維持」，「住民の認知症への認識の不足」を導いた．

　考察：本研究では都市部は中山間地域に比べ近隣関係の親密度は低く住民間の助け合いが不足していると考える．一方，中山間地域では既存の互助活動に限界が訪れている．認知症高齢者を見守る住民間の助け合いや認知症への啓発活動が求められている．

　Purpose: The present study aimed clarifying the regional issues of wandering of elderly people with dementia in suburban and mountainous areas.

　Method: We targeted one metropolitan suburb and one mountainous district by analyzing already existing data (e.g., demographics), performing a community windshield survey and conducting interviews with 16 families caring for elderly with dementia, local volunteers and 15 healthcare/welfare professionals. The key information was extracted and organized from these data. The identifed items were structured into 3 groups and 8 categories, characteristics of each community were described in terms of “strength” or “weakness”, and a logic-tree analysis was performed to assess common and specifc characteristics for the two communities.

　Results: “Lack of organization for supporting elderly with dementia” and “Fostering motivation among residents for dementia support” were found as common characteristics. “Promotion of collaboration between welfare providers, residents and various industries” and “Insufcient help among residents for watching over elderly with dementia” characterized the suburb, while “Maintaining mutual support among residents watching over elderly with dementia” and “Lack of public awareness of dementia” characterized the mountainous district.

　Discussion: Neighborhood relations were found less intimate in suburban areas compared to mountainous areas; there is also a lack of help among residents living in suburban areas. On the other hand, in the mountainous areas, there is some limitation of mutual aid activities due to population decline and aging. Help among residents who watch over elderly people with dementia is needed, as well as activities to raise awareness of dementia.