Reduction in the number of hospital beds in a super-aging society: an upsurge in isolation deaths.

Abstract

Aim: This study examines the factors leading to more elderly Japanese patients dying alone, the costs associated with this, and potential solutions.

Method: This is done through a review of the literature and data concerning Japanese housing policies, elderly households, isolation deaths and the costs of medical care and long-term care (LTC).

Results: Due to the decline of the domestic economy, Japanese home ownership has lost its former function of asset-building, and elderly households are overspending. The demand for a final residence for low-income, frail, elderly tenants, who have greater risks of isolation deaths, will be increasing, especially in urban areas where there are inadequate postmortem examination systems. Elderly patients requiring a high level of treatment are forcibly discharged from hospitals and LTC costs peak after 90 years of age.

Conclusions: Local governments should do what they can to facilitate the opening of more specialized nursing homes. It is essential to provide hospital beds to elderly patients with the imminent risk of dying to prevent them from isolation deaths because it is a human right to die with dignity. In order to accommodate elderly patients who need extensive medical treatments and to provide an appropriate place for the point of death, more convalescent beds are needed. Collaboration with hospitals, local governments, and integrated community care support centers (ICCSC) is the key to solving this problem.