Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Long Term Care in Japan and Sweden: A Comparison of Target Population, Needs and Services Provided from 2000-2010

Marten Lagergren, Noriko Kurube and Yasuhiko Saito

This study aims to show how provision of long term care services has been affected by changes in population, needs of long term care by age-group and gender and provided services by level of need in Japan and Sweden 2000-2010. Data in the Japanese case were taken from the NUJLSOA-study and from registrations in the Japanese Long Term Care Insurance- system from nine municipalities. Swedish data were taken from the nationally representative surveys of living conditions (SSLC) and from surveys relating provision to needs in eight municipalities. In both countries there has been a positive health development among the old citizens. The proportion receiving home-related long term care services in Japan increased by more than 50% during the first fiveyear period. In Sweden there was a much slower increase of long term care provisions. The 2005 Japanese long term care reform seems to have dampened provision increase, but it was still much more rapid in the period 2005-2010 than in Sweden.