Yurie Kobashi1, Tomohiro Morita2, Akihiko Ozaki3,4, Toyoaki Sawano1,4, Nobuaki Moriyama5, Naomi Ito1, Masaharu Tsubokura1,4. 1. Department of Radiation Health Management, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Soma Central Hospital, Soma, Fukushima, Japan. 3. Department of Breast Surgery, Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation, Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan. 4. Research Center for Community Health, Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital, Minamisoma, Fukushima, Japan. 5. Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima City, Fukushima, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: It is crucial to determine the health status of returnees to former evacuation areas. We aimed to examine the long-term care (LTC) utilization rate among elderly returnees as the indicator of care needs. METHODS: This study used a resident registration database to collect information on LTC utilization rate among elderly returnees to former evacuation areas in Fukushima, Japan, following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. LTC utilization rates were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: For all age groups, the LTC utilization rates were lower among returnees than evacuees. The LTC utilization rate among returnees in each age group (chi-square test results compared to evacuees) were as follows: 0.78% (P = 0.194) for those aged 65-69, 0.69% (P = 0.003) for those aged 70-74, 3.23% (P = 0.007) for those aged 75-79, 6.79% (P < 0.001) for those aged 80-84, 22.84% (P = 0.011) for those aged 85-89, and 44.09% (P = 0.089) for those aged 90 and over. CONCLUSION: Elderly returnees had fewer LTC needs than elderly evacuees. Nevertheless, the proportion of aging people is high in evacuation area, meaning the number of elderly returnees would increase at an enormous rate. Therefore, LTC utilization rate would increase in the future.
OBJECTIVE: It is crucial to determine the health status of returnees to former evacuation areas. We aimed to examine the long-term care (LTC) utilization rate among elderly returnees as the indicator of care needs. METHODS: This study used a resident registration database to collect information on LTC utilization rate among elderly returnees to former evacuation areas in Fukushima, Japan, following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. LTC utilization rates were descriptively analyzed. RESULTS: For all age groups, the LTC utilization rates were lower among returnees than evacuees. The LTC utilization rate among returnees in each age group (chi-square test results compared to evacuees) were as follows: 0.78% (P = 0.194) for those aged 65-69, 0.69% (P = 0.003) for those aged 70-74, 3.23% (P = 0.007) for those aged 75-79, 6.79% (P < 0.001) for those aged 80-84, 22.84% (P = 0.011) for those aged 85-89, and 44.09% (P = 0.089) for those aged 90 and over. CONCLUSION: Elderly returnees had fewer LTC needs than elderly evacuees. Nevertheless, the proportion of aging people is high in evacuation area, meaning the number of elderly returnees would increase at an enormous rate. Therefore, LTC utilization rate would increase in the future.
Entities:
Keywords:
Fukushima; aging people; evacuation area; long-term care utilization rate