The estimated results are shown in Figure 5. As can be seen by inspecting the graphical exposition, the ratios of the aged population at home suffering from senile dementia or being bedridden to women outside the labor force grow over time for all age groups. It can also be noted that although the differences in the ratios among these age groups are very small in the early years, they expand markedly over time. Furthermore, non-working women in their 40s consistently show the highest ratio through-out the projection period. Approximately one out of every 10 women aged 40-49 assumes responsibility for taking care of one infirm elderly person at home in 1995, but almost 50 percent of the non-working women of this age group is likely to provide in-home care to elderly patients in 2025. These intertemporal differences in the pattern of increase in the computed ratios among the six age groups are attributable to changes in their labor force participation rates as well as in their cohort size.
Figure 5. Change in the Ratio of the Aged Population Suffering from Senile Dementia or Being Bedridden to Non-working Women at Various Ages. 1995-2025
