COMPARISON SURVEY ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN THAILAND AND JAPAN

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the situations of and differences between family caregivers of elderly people in Thailand and Japan, and obtain basic data that can be used for constructing family support systems in both countries through collaboration and the applying of each country’s strengths.

Methods: A cross-sectional exploratory descriptive research design was employed. Participants were family members taking care of elderly people at home. Data were collected in the Kanto, Kinki, and Tokai areas of Japan, and three districts in Chiang Mai in Thailand. This research was approved by the first presenter’s Institutional Review Board.

Results: Of a total of 114 family caregivers in Japan, 82 (71.9%) were female and mean age was 64.8 ± 11.1 years. In Thailand, 76 (73.8%) of 103 family caregivers were female and mean age was 49.1 ± 13.3 years. Family caregivers in Thailand felt more healthy both mentally and physically (p =.000, p =.000). Specifically, they felt a lighter care burden and less loneliness (p =.000, p =.000) compared to those in Japan, which relate to family caregivers in Thailand having more social connections and informal support than those in Japan (p =.000, p =.000).

Conclusion: Despite there being a long-term care insurance system in Japan and not Thailand, the condition of family caregivers was better in Thailand than in Japan. We conclude that social connection and informal support are important factors of well-being for family caregivers.