The dissertation of Jennifer Lisa Sakamoto focuses on the role of home and community-based services (HCBS) in promoting healthy aging in place among older adults in rural communities in Germany and Japan. Before joining TU Dortmund University, she was a Project Assistant Professor of Community and Global Health at the University of Tokyo, Japan. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Health Sciences. Growing up on the multicultural island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands, Jennifer's research interests lie at the intersection of culture, health and well-being. She is particularly interested in understanding and addressing disparities in underserved populations, focusing on the influence of social, cultural, and environmental factors on health outcomes and well-being.
Contact: lisa.sakamoto@tu-dortmund.de
An intercultural comparative study of Germany and Japan
“Aging in place” is a concept that refers to one’s ability to live safely, independently, and comfortably in their homes and communities. However, this could be particularly challenging for rural-dwelling older adults because the prevalence of multimorbidity is higher in rural communities, and these areas tend to have limited resources to promote access to healthcare services. In Germany and Japan, where more than 20% of its population is aged 65 years or older, home- and community-based care (HCBC) services are receiving attention in the context of finding solutions to the rapidly aging society. While previous studies have found that utilization of these services improved frailty, loneliness, and quality of life among older adults, limited research has explored HCBC services and healthy aging in place, especially among older adults living in rural and remote communities.
Therefore, this study aims to explore the following questions:
- What existing HCBC services support healthy aging in place? What are the possible challenges that are particular to rural and remote communities?
- What is the relationship between HCBC service utilization and multidimensional health among rural-dwelling older adults in Germany and Japan?
- What are the institutional- and individual-level experiences of HCBC services?
The project will utilize quantitative and qualitative study methods to address the research questions comprehensively.