Page 142 - GHES-2-1

Global Health Econ Sustain Elderly people with dementia

Table 6. Scale scores for PWD
Scales Hong Kong (HK, Japan Singapore ANOVA Post hoc comparison between
N=164) (JP, N=166) (SG, N=233) regions a
n Mean SD n Mean SD n Mean SD F df p HK HK JP
versus JP versus versus
SG SG
SBI_TotalR 164 13.9 5.84 166 15.6 4.98 233 15.3 5.34 4.821 2 0.008** 0.016* 0.032* 0.910
IADL_TotalR 164 6.0 6.87 166 9.9 8.06 233 6.4 6.66 15.677 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.853 0.000***
PCMemory_TotalR # 163 6.3 1.32 166 5.8 1.49 233 5.6 1.68 10.608 2 0.000*** 0.005** 0.000*** 0.344
PCDisruptive_TotalR # 164 3.7 2.53 166 2.4 2.2 233 2.3 1.94 21.108 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.804
PCAffective_TotalR # 164 4.7 2.94 166 3.1 2.61 233 1.8 2.09 63.427 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000***
RMBPC_TotalR 164 14.6 5.57 166 11.3 4.63 233 9.7 4.19 52.561 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.001**
RTMemory_TotalR 164 4.5 5.15 166 13.4 6.58 233 4.5 5.23 143.761 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.998 0.000***
RTDisruptive_TotalR 159 6.1 6.61 130 18.1 8.86 233 3.3 4.31 231.364 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000***
RTAffective_TotalR 160 5.1 6.98 137 16.9 8.35 233 2.3 4.07 240.041 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.000***
RMBRT_TotalR 164 15.7 16.19 166 46.7 20.28 233 10.1 11.36 280.859 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.001** 0.000***
MMSE_Total_score 147 12.4 7.26 128 18.4 5.58 233 12.1 5.83 46.778 2 0.000*** 0.000*** 0.876 0.000***
#
a
Notes: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. Games-Howell test, which the assumption of homogeneity of variance was violated. Items in RMB scale were
recoded as “0” or “1” in the compilation of data. “0” indicates “Never occurred” and “1” indicates “Occurred.”
Abbreviations: df: Degree of freedom; SD: Standard deviation.
for elderly dementia care, both for hospital visits and to may either be undeveloped or considered unacceptable
access services provided onsite, whereas this figure was within Singaporean culture. In addition, in the Japanese
<10% in Singapore. Furthermore, in Singapore, it was community, people from different nationalities, cultures,
found that most medical and social services posed barriers and languages are referred to as foreigners. As an island
to the use of support services due to time commitment, nation, Japan may have limited experience in interacting
lack of service recognition, and the high cost of care (Ng, with other countries.
2009). This challenge presents an area requiring further In addition, there is an increasing acceptance of foreign
research.
workers without a settled idea of immigration support and
Regarding family caregivers, the situation was very foreign caregivers (Asakura, 2019). Meanwhile, in Japan,
similar in all three regions in terms of age, gender, there is an opportunity to identify crucial intersections
education level, and primary caregiver status. As developed for the effective use of foreign workers in care work. In
regions in East Asia, we believe that the data presented particular, the highest percentage of respondents across
here are in line with the international situation in terms all three regions indicated “just barely, but just right” in
of the elderly population and the incidence of dementia. terms of financial satisfaction, accounting for 40 – 60% of
However, differences by country can be observed in terms the total. This trend suggests that caregivers in the three
of marital status and working style. In Japan, the number regions recognize that they are managing to maintain
of single people is significantly lower, and the number of their current lifestyle to some extent despite various
those not working is relatively high, suggesting an increase forms of support being available. As they find themselves
in caregiving responsibilities. In Hong Kong, only 10% comfortably maintaining their lifestyle without actively
of caregivers are not working, whereas nearly 40% are looking for new forms of support, there may be room to
employed full-time, possibly due to a lack of social systems explore novel care approaches as societal dynamics evolve
supporting caregiving without employment. Conversely, in amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Japan, it is possible that married people who do not work
serve as primary caregivers. It is necessary to prepare for However, differences exist in the state of social systems
comprehensive care in anticipation of domestic situations among countries. It is conceivable that the concepts of
where dementia patients must care for other dementia self-help and mutual aid, along with a community spirit of
patients or the elderly must care for the elderly. In Singapore, mutual help, are being fostered.
nearly 30% of the population is under-employed, while In Singapore, there exists a public perception that even
60% are employed full-time. Part-time or casual work economically disadvantaged patients in need of treatment

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1954