Overview
System of Health and Welfare Services for the Elderly

Detailed Information 1
Outline and Target Capacity of Major Health and Welfare Services for the Elderly

Overview

1. Objectives

The objective of the health service system for the elderly is to supply those in or after the prime of life with comprehensive health and medical services, including disease prevention, treatment and functional training in order to help the public to maintain good health in old age and ensure the availability of appropriate medical services to them, while the necessary cost is fairly shared by the whole nation.

2. Contents

(1) Medical service for the elderly: Providing medical services to persons who are 70 years old and older, the bedridden elderly, and other similar people who are 65 years old and older.

• Health expenditure for the elderly (FY1996 actual data): Total of \9,723.2 billion, \782,000 per person
  c.f. National health expenditure (FY1996 actual data): Total of \28,521 billion, \227,000 per person

Cost Sharing by Patients

(1)Co-payment

(2)Standard co-payment amount for inpatient dietary therapy expenses

Insurers' Contribution

The contribution is calculated based on the assumption that the same ratio of elderly people participate in each insurance scheme, regardless of differences in actual ratio of elderly participants (however, the adjustment of elderly participant ratio has upper and lower limits, which were 25% from April to June or 30% in July and thereafter for upper limits, and 1.4% for lower limits.)

(2) Health services, health services facility for the elderly and home-visit nursing care program for the elderly: please refer to other sections.

Detailed Information 1
Changes in Health Expenditures for the Elderly and
National Health Expenditures

Detailed Information 2
The Comparison of Medical Examination Expenses for Elderly People and Non-Elderly People (including dietary therapy and drug supply)

Overview

Health Services Implementation System

Health services are conducted by the municipalities for the purpose of assuring the health maintenance of people in their old age. These services are targeted to residents age 40 and older.

Specifically, health services

1 aim at promoting the health of those in their prime of life, prevention of geriatric diseases, early detection and early treatment; and

2 promoting the independence of people with, for example, the aftereffect of cerebral apoplexy, improving rehabilitation and developing a system to support home treatment so that they can live at home without being bedridden as much as possible.

Detailed Information 1
The Implementation System of Health Services

Detailed Data 1
The Implementation Status of Health Services

Detailed Data 2
Changes in Health Service Expenditure

Overview

Objectives

Health Services Facilities for the Elderly were established by the Amendment to the Health and Medical Service Law for the Elderly which was promulgated in 1986. These are the facilities which support the independence of the elderly and help them return home by providing medical care and daily living support services to those whose diseases are in a stable condition. The operation began in fiscal 1988.

Eligible People

Bedridden elderly people, etc. who are in the stable stage of a disease, who do not require hospitalized medical treatment, but require rehabilitation and mainly nursing/personal care.

Contents of the Services

A variety of services according to the needs of the bedridden elderly and others are offered by health service facilities for the elderly.

Contents

In-Home Services (short-stay care, day care, and night care) �� feeding, bathing and rehabilitation

• So-called "senile elderly people" are also eligible to use health services facilities for the elderly, excluding those who require professional medical service and protection at mental hospitals.

Detailed Data 1
Establishment of Health Services Facilities (actual figures)

Detailed Data 2
Facility Status by Founder and Capacity

Detailed Data 3
Medical Expenses and User's Fee for Health Services Facilities for the Elderly

Overview
An Outline of the Home-Visit Nursing Care System for the Elderly

Detailed Data 1
Annual Changes in the Designation of Home-Visit Nursing Care Stations

Detailed Data 2
Number of Users by Sex and Age Group