Regional Health Care for the Elderly by Private Institutions Centered on a General Hospital / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

A regional care system for ill or disabled elderly people, with a non-governmental general hospital playing a central role in providing health and medical services, was investigated in a rural area. In the southern part of Oita City, the Hetsugi Hospital is such a central medical institution. Attached to the hospital, there are the geriatric intermediate care facilities and the home-care service unit for the elederly with two full-time nurses. Organizationally independent, the hospital, the health facilities and the home-care service unit are united in their efforts to deliver comprehensive services ranging from emergency service to home health care. As a result of improvements in residential and home care activities, the average number of days the elderly patients spent in the hospital has decreased by some 10 days in the past 7 years. Our survey also found that most of the old people andtheir families are satisfied with day health-care services provided to them. In a rural setting where health, medical and welfare resources are wanting, we considered, the system in this region could serve as a model for the practical and effective care system for the disabled elederly.