Gov't to set up 24-hour nursing care service

Well in that case we had better hurry to raise the tax to 20%.

Joking aside, it seems that we've got a big burden to carry in the next few decades: paying to take care of our elderly. Necessary, but unrealistic as these elderly are dead set against allowing more non-japanese in to stimulate the economy. I think we need to change our immigration policy now.

I'm only surprised this wasn't in place already -- do they think the elderly and/or bed-ridden only have trouble during business hours?

This may actually be intended to not only reduce nursing care costs (care in a nursing home is much more costly), but it will have the indirect effect of A: reducing the need to build more nursing homes as the elderly population booms in the coming years; B: creating jobs for mobile nurses; and C: keeping elderly in their homes/apartments so that places don't become abandoned and/or empty. By maintaining occupancy, it will prevent (somewhat) the decline in housing prices due to over-abundance. Haven't you noticed the growing number of real estate agents and empty homes, all while even more new mansions continue to be built? With a population that is currently shrinking, there are way too many places available already. Smells like another real-estate bubble...

a 15,000 yen wage increase? who is the gov't kidding? that's not going to attract many more workers. try adding another zero to that and then watch what happens.

Gov't to set up 24-hour nursing care service

to care for Diet members

@Ben_Jackinoff: Gov't to set up 24-hour nursing care service - to care for Diet members

That's exactly what I was thinking. You beat me to it :)

What about all the licensed home care workers licensed by NHK exams? Will they get raises too? If so I want half of it from my ex

And how is this being paid for? If they didn't have it before - ie wasn't covered under the health insurance - why is this being introduced at a time when the government has no money? Sorry but these old folks or their family need to take some responsibility for their care.

And yes, with the building! Places going up all over the place - mansions of all things - will the old folks die off and leave empty houses. How the heck does that work? I would much rather buy their land at a fair price and build a house rather than live in a crappy mansion.

And how is this being paid for? If they didn't have it before - ie wasn't covered under the health insurance - why is this being introduced at a time when the government has no money? Sorry but these old folks or their family need to take some responsibility for their care.

So you moan about Japan not looking after its poor, but when programs like this are set up, you moan again?! What if these old folks don't have a family?

If they don't have a family, by all means help them. If the old people have the money, they should be paying for it. It shouldn't be a free for all. Help those in need only. Plenty of rich, old Japanese here that will leave a ton of cash to their kids. How about paying for their care instead of burdening an already broke system?

Give you an example, my grandmother in law would be prime for this because she needs care. However, she lives in a house, has plenty of money and could afford to pay for the help herself. Why should she not? The women didn't personally contribute a cent to income/pension all her life - husband/husband's company did that - so why can't she pay now instead of passing the money down the line and taking advantage of the tax payers? There are millions of older women all around the country in the exact same situation. This wasn't part of the "program" they paid into. Japan is discussing raising taxes and they come up with this for everyone? Insane.

If they don't have a family, by all means help them. If the old people have the money, they should be paying for it.

So some old codger or biddy who never raised a family, spent all his/her money on profligate living and now needs help going to the toilet should be able to get help for free, while those who raised a family have to have a family member out of work to be a full-time carer, and those who were careful and saved for a rainy day (or who had a spouse considerate enough to be well-insured) must pay through the nose if they need help?

Well, to be fair, if some old codger was single his whole life, there's a strong chance he has been paying some serious amount of income taxes.

horrified and zichi - Exactly. Means-testing health care is never going to be fair.

Worked at nursing home, hospital (old peoples' word. There is long waiting lists for nursing homes). Private and pubic sectors r trying to build/set up more services, but Japan's aging population r swelling much faster. So many reasons, all different cases, when a person comes to nursing home. So many who r at home alone or with family. Seeing them (what I saw is only a tip of sad huge iceberg), any help/support will be welcome to them (family members, service providers and minimum-wage-careworkers like me) Young people will (r) carrying the burden? Yes. Should follow other welfare success countries? Yes. Maybe Japanese long life is the problem? To see it as a result of 'academic success+good money job is life in Japan's success, let ur kids study hard, nurture, protect and over protect them, set up good family and prestige, and u r a good Japanese' hidden propaganda by ourselves. Never new the story continues and u might end up as 1 of 4,000,000 aged Japanese with diapers 24/7.

if some old codger was single his whole life, there's a strong chance he has been paying some serious amount of income taxes.

But he hasn't put any new tax-payers in the population.

He would have paid single person income tax. Some of that would have been spent on schools for educating other people's children since he never had any himself?

And he would benefit from living in a well-educated society. A good proportion of those other folks' kids will grow up to be doctors, care workers, professionals and skilled workers in all spheres on whom he will rely at some point in his life. As do we all.

Cleo, what do you propose? Free for all and ruin the future for the younger people even more? Taxes will be raised, uni grads can't find a job, people aren't having kids... There is not enough people being born or in work to support the aging population. I shouldn't have to point that out to you. The country can't afford 24 hours bum wiping services for everyone over the age of 70 who "needs" it - personally, I think a lot are just lonely and would appreciate some company but this isn't the way to go about dealing with that problem.

Indeed, those who are unable to walk, look after themselves and have no money should get help. Those who can afford it should be paying for it. It is not different than the public propping up the welfare system. Those singles would have paid tax to support schools for kids they never had - and the free health care for the kids they never had. Those with the money shouldn't burden an already burdened country. We're paying through the nose for THEIR health care right now. Add this in? If they can afford it, they should pay. This wasn't part of the system of care afford when they were paying taxes, why spring this on the public now? Oh all times when they are raising taxes to cover the pension system. They're getting their pensions - I know I won't be!

Try getting admitted to a healthcare facility at night or over the weekend.

They can't even guarantee 24-hour care!