Since 1994, our clinic has had monthly study meetings for those who looked after bedridden patients in their homes. As of June 1996, we have gotten together 39 times and a total of 168 persons have participated (mean 4.8). We have discussed the welfare system (3 times) and diseases such as bed sore and lumbago (16 times), visited participants' homes and demonstrated medical equipment (4 times each) and talked about general affairs (12 times). In home health care, a role of those who look after bedridden patients in their homes is very important. Social and medical systems should support them. We think ther meetings could continue to support them morally and psyehologically.

We have provided home health care to 42 patients with terminal cancer over the past five years. The pancreas was the most common site of the primary cencers (9 cases). The average age of the dead was 74.6 years, which was younger than that from heart failure or brain infarction. The average duration of stay of home was 60.1 days. The average frequency of visit to a patient's home was 15.8 times. In 52.4% of the cases, morphine were administered for pain control. The average dose was 48.2 mg per day, and term of administration was 30.6 days. In most cases, those who looked after the patients were daugh-in-laws or wives.
In some cases, a local government lent a bed to a patient. Of the patients 21.4% were fold by their physicians what they are up to were. In conclusion, home health care of cases of terminal cancer will be more important in the future. Pain control by morphine, support for those who look after the patients by frequent visits, practical use of the welfare system and full-time medical care system which meets patients' need are thought to be necessary.