Difficulties and Outcomes in Managing Long-Term Care for Financially Challenged Older Adults in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID6452671
AuthorsHidehiro Sugisawa (0000-0003-1646-1824, J. F. Oberlin University Hidehiro Sugisawa, PhD, is professor, , Shinjuku Campus, 3-23-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan), Shizuko Yanagisawa (0000-0003-4735-1150, Tokyo Kasei University Shizuko Yanagisawa, PhD, is professor, , Tokyo, Japan), Hiromi Kitajima (0009-0007-6983-3026, Nippon Sport Science University Hiromi Kitajima, PhD, is professor, , Tokyo, Japan)
Year2025
Volume49
Issue3
Pages173-184
Publication date2025-07-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Work Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1545-6838 • E-ISSN: 1070-5309
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/swr/svaf013
OpenAlexW4412801574
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited46

This study investigates the factors affecting difficulties and poor outcomes perceived by care managers (CMs) assisting older adults with financial difficulties in Japan’s insurance system. Based on the job demands-resources model, this study examines how CMs’ caseloads and case complexity (i.e., job demands), social support (i.e., job resources), and area socioeconomic status (SES) as structural factors influence these perceptions. In addition, this study sought to understand whether area SES affects difficulties and outcomes directly or indirectly through job demands and resource factors. The participants included 329 CMs from Tokyo. Findings revealed that caseloads impacted perceived difficulty, while case complexity significantly affected perceived challenges and outcomes. Variations in difficulties were directly associated with area SES, with no mediating factors. Addressing only the number of cases with financial issues proves inadequate for reducing the difficulties and negative outcomes CMs face. Care management practices that adequately navigate the intricacies of these cases should be developed. CMs in areas with lower SES encounter additional stressors. However, it remains unclear how area SES directly influences these difficulties. In addition, the effect sizes of these significant relationships were small to moderate; therefore, the practical significance of the results remains unclear

Long-term care · Psychiatry · Term (time · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Medicine · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Nursing · Psychology · Retirement, Disability, and Employment · Gerontology

Tools

Open DOI