[Midterm achievement and problems of all municipal health and welfare plans for the elderly in Yamagata Prefecture].
OBJECTIVE
This study was made for providing information in the preparation of Social Welfare Systems in municipalities.


METHODS
Based on seven official reports by Yamagata Prefecture, quantitative data on health and welfare services were analyzed. We investigated the midterm achievement and problems of a Municipal Health and Welfare Plan for the Elderly in all 44 municipalities by mail survey (response rate 100%). The questionnaire included the progress situation of the plan, the existence of an assessment organization, and the characteristics of the plan.


RESULTS
Both health service and welfare service achieved targets level to a degree. Concerning the progress situation, "The midterm achievement is not satisfactory" for 65.9% (29 municipalities). The main reasons were "budgets" (93.1%, 27 municipalities) and "lack of manpower" (75.9%, 22 municipalities) all of which indicates "lack of home helpers". 58.6% of all 44 municipalities were reconsidering the plan. In assessment organization existed in 31.8% (14 municipalities) of all municipalities.


CONCLUSIONS
It is necessary that analysis should consider not only use of quantitative data but also qualitative one. The major problems found are that community characteristics were not reflected and the opinion of inhabitants were not considered.
Gotou
J
J
Yamagata School of Health Science, Department of Nursing.
Yasumura
S
S
Imuta
H
H
Abe
H
H
Katura
T
T
Watanabe
Y
Y
Hoshino
A
A
Suzuki
I
I
D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007564:Japan; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires