[The use factor of the long-term care insurance after enforcement half a year].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors involved in the low usage of home care services in Japan half a year after their enforcement. METHOD: Questionnaires were mailed to the 1,500 senior citizens residing in H city Osaka who were using the home care services covered by the long-term care insurance system. Of the 1,500, 888 responded (59.2%). RESULTS: Of the 888 respondents, 70.7% were women, with a mean age of 82.0 +/- 7.2 years; 33.2% were living alone and 19.3% were living with their spouse. The rate of use was higher than the national average. Use amount of money. Then, when yen 10,000-15,000 were exceeded that the number of users is halved. Of the service control factor, 40% were economical burden, 32% were no-necessary of service, 27% were feeling of resistance to staff and shortage of information, 7% were complicated proceduring and without service. The rate of use and significant relation were seen, "senior citizen only family, short-stay service, home helper service, day care service, and the senior is dementia".