Home-visit nursing service use by older adults in Japan using insurance claims data

This study aimed to investigate the proportion of home-visit nursing (HVN) used, the timing of initiating these services, and the medical conditions of older adults in the last two years of life based on their place of death. The study used insurance claims data of people aged 75 or older from 32 Japanese municipalities who passed away between March 2017 and September 2018. Of the 15,124 older adults analyzed, the results revealed that 14 % died at home, and among them, 68 % had used HVN services. In the home or non-home groups, the most common timing for initiating the services was in the last six months of life. Among these individuals, the prevalence of cancer increased as death approached, with the highest prevalence in the last six months of life. Findings confirm that HVN plays a crucial role in supporting end-of-life care at home.