Population aging, changes in living arrangement, and the new long-term care system in Japan

W Koyano

During the last five decades, family life of the Japanese elderly and longterm care have drastically changed. As a response to the rapid population aging and the increasing difficulty of family care, a new universalistic system of long-term care services is going to be introduced in 2000. The new system, called the Insurance Against Care, acknowledges societal responsibility for long-term care, and guarantees a certain level of provision of care services. While the insurance is a response to the changes in family life of the elderly, symbolized by the decrease of co-residence with adult children, it may further stimulate and complete the changes to family life of the Japanese elderly which began in the 1960s.

JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND SOCIAL WELFARE

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIV

26

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