Issues and Policies on Health and Welfare Services for the Elderly in Japan
Abstract
Japan today is facing two serious demographical challenges: a decrease in total population and an increasing proportion of the elderly. According to the Japanese government, the number of entire population is expected to decrease from 121 to 86.7 millions in the next 30 years. By then, half of municipalities nationwide would not be able to function, especially in rural regions facing human resource shortage. In 2015, the proportion of the elderly (aged 65 years and over) has already reached 26%, by 2025, it is estimated to reach 30%. How will Japan overcome these demographic challenges? The talk will begin with a review of the health and welfare laws and systems for the elderly established in Japan since the end of Second World War. Next, the discussion will focus on the most recent “regional comprehensive care system” established by the government. This new system provides local governments and health-related local organizations with a blue print to manage elderly issues through efficient case-management works in collaboration with social workers and public health nurses, using locally available human and facilities resources. How effective will be the system be? How can Japan maintain the system and distribute appropriately the scarce resources and financial challenges?
About the Speaker
Assoc. Professor Motoyuki Yuasa, M.D. Ph.D was born in Tokyo and graduated from School of Medicine, Hokkaido University. He received PhD in Medicine from Sapporo Medical University. After worked at Hokkaido prefectural government as a director of public health center in Shizunai, he was dispatched to the Philippines and Brazil as a public health long-term expert of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Since June 2009, Dr. Yuasa has worked at Juntendo University as an associate professor of Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, and Faculty of International Liberal Arts. Specialty is public health, global health, and community-based health promotion.
