Early urinary catheter removal from patients cared for in their own home is often difficult because of incontinence and care burdens, resulting in long duration of catheterization. Urinary tract infection and catheter blockage are major complications associated with long-term catheterization. Preventing these complications is important for patients who require long-term catheterization in their own home. This study aimed to examine the occurrence characteristics of urinary catheter blockage and to identify the causative factors of catheter blockage in patients cared for in their own home requiring long-term urinary catheterization. The study targeted 154 patients cared for in their own home requiring long-term urinary catheterization. Patient data were collected by questionnaire by the nurse manager. Catheter blockage occurred in 33·8% of patients requiring long-term catheterization within the first 6 months, and the mean frequency in these patients was 3·0, indicating that catheter blockage occurs repeatedly. The following management factors significantly correlated with the frequency of catheter blockage: ‘check urine volume’, ‘check for flexion and distortion of the catheter’ and ‘check urinary tract infection symptoms’ for catheter management by caregivers. Symptoms correlated with catheter blockage included ‘cloudiness of the urine’, ‘decreased urine volume’, ‘abdominal pain’ and ‘duration of catheterization’. In the future, we would like to prepare the protocol to help visiting nurses improve their abilities to manage catheter blockage in patients requiring long-term catheterization, by incorporating the findings from this study.