In Japan, the “80-50 problem” has become a social issue, where parents in their 80s and children in their 50s live together. In such cases, the parents are old, while the children are often dependent, withdrawn, and struggling financially. Recently, the number of such cases in care management has increased. Previous research has shown that it is important to understand what information is collected in assessments for these cases.

The aim of the study is to analyze the relationship between information that was considered important and information that was actually collected in the “8050 problem” cases by Japanese care managers. The research was conducted from February to March 2022 using self-administered questionnaires. The survey was sent to all 1,410 care management centers in Osaka City of Japan with a response rate of 11.8%.

The information that was considered important as an independent variable consists of seven factors: children’s physical, mental, and living conditions; parents’ physical and mental conditions; parents’ feelings toward children and children’s feelings toward parents; relationships between informal and formal support systems; living conditions; parents’ perspectives on their lives; parents’ and children’s financial situation; and parent-child relationships. The information that was actually collected as a dependent variable consists of seven factors: children’s physical, mental, and living conditions; parents’ physical and mental conditions; parents’ perspectives on their lives; parents’ and children’s financial situation; living conditions; relationships between informal and formal support systems; and parent-child relationships.

Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship. The results showed that six factors in the information that was considered important was significantly associated with the information that was actually collected. Only information about parents’ feelings toward children and children’s feelings toward parents was not associated. It became clear that care managers had actually grasped the information they considered important in their assessment. However, they were unable to grasp the feelings of the parents and children.

Takako Ayabe is Professor of BAIKA Women’s University.

My main research areas are : care management ; elder support ; and public long term care insurance system in JAPAN. I’m a certified social worker.