Japan has the world’s oldest population – what can we learn from their home care system

Japan has long been known for its widespread respect for its seniors and a powerful sense of obligation to care for them. The involvement and responsibility of the family members in care was even formally embodied in the “Japanese style welfare state”.

Yet as the demographic structure of society has changed, and the population has progressively aged – Japan now has the oldest population in the world – the provision of care is increasingly seen as a social (and not exclusively a family) concern.

The Japanese government has developed an incredibly comprehensive and thoughtful late life care plan.

Conversely in the UK, social care has been affected by a range of funding cuts to local budgets since 2010, which has increased pressure on the social care system. The situation is further compounded by a gradually ageing population. In Japan in 2016, those aged over 65 comprised 26.5 per cent of the population; in the UK it was 18.4 per cent.

To read more about the social care model in Japan visit The Independent website.