P21: Buddhist temples are promising social resource in secular community-based integrated care (2): Peer support, spiritual care, and grief care for caregivers at the Buddhist temples caregiver cafés

Abstract

Objectives: In an era marked by a 100-year life expectancy, nearly everyone may eventually become a caregiver to a family member or someone close, yet caregiver support remains insufficient in Japan. Outside the government’s comprehensive community-based integrated care system, Buddhist temples are notable for supporting caregivers of individuals with dementia at home. To evaluate the rationale, feasibility, strengths, and fairness of using temples as a community resource within a community-based integrated care system, it is crucial to critically analyze views from secular healthcare professionals familiar with these activities. This study aims to explore the characteristics and potential of caregiver cafés hosted in Buddhist temples from the perspective of staff members involved in secular community- based integrated care system.

Methods: Initially, a preliminary questionnaire survey was administered to 13 priests at Jodo Shu temples that host caregiver cafés to ascertain the current status of these cafés and explore potential collaboration routes with public organizations for future research. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 staff members from public organizations involved in community-based integrated care, such as community-based integrated support centers, social welfare councils, and NPOs, who participate in caregiver cafés at Buddhist temples.

Results: All temples were found to cooperate with public institutions involved in community- integrated care. Thematic analysis led to the identification of 20 subcategories from 150 discourses. These subcategories, which had similar content, were further consolidated into a single category and ultimately grouped into four major categories: temples as social resources, temples and priests leveraging their strengths, familiar temples open to the community, and fair temples.

Conclusions: The findings suggested that temples have significant potential to integrate into community-based care systems and play crucial roles in supporting Japan’s super-aged society.