On March 3, 2025, the fourth review meeting titled "How to Provide Services in 2040" was held by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This meeting focused on how to adapt to changing service needs due to population decline and suggested utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to match short-term labor demands within care services. The need for this innovation was highlighted as the caregiver shortage remains the biggest challenge facing the care sector.
The meeting emphasized the principles of the care insurance law, which focuses on maintaining dignity and promoting independence. Proposals were put forth for flexible service models, particularly for mountainous and depopulated areas, which might require the easing of personnel allocation standards. Conversely, urban areas face different challenges such as high land and building costs, contributing to the lack of facilities and residential services.
During the discussions, the necessity of improving the treatment of caregivers was underscored, as these enhancements are key to retaining staff and fostering productivity. This includes promoting employment management and improving workplace environments through the adoption of technology and task shifting. Collaborative efforts among regional stakeholders are seen as imperative to continue improving care service operations.
"Caregiver recruitment is the most significant challenge to securing service provision," stated one participant. To combat this, contributors discussed easing regulations on personnel staffing, particularly during night shifts, and the possibility of combining various services flexibly.
With the increasing number of elderly individuals living alone, particularly those suffering from dementia, the discussions also circled around the urgent need for integrated regional care services. Strategies to deepen the community-based care system were suggested, emphasizing the seamless provision of medical and nursing care.
At the same time, on February 27, 2025, ten welfare service providers created the Care-Related Service Business Association to promote services not covered by care insurance. This new association aims to establish guidelines and certification systems for living support and meal delivery services. Tomoyoshi Mizunoe, the association's representative, emphasized the collaboration between various stakeholders to promote these external services to society.
This newly formed association presented the draft guidelines for the "100-Year Life Support Certification" at the establishment ceremony. These guidelines include stipulations to secure appropriate contracting processes and operational management regulations for various care services. Mizunoe expressed hopes to contribute significantly to the spread and societal inclusion of care services not under the scope of traditional insurance coverage, indicating the growing recognition of diverse care needs.
Overall, the discussions held by both the review committee and the newly established association highlight the foundational shifts occurring within Japan's sphere of elderly care. With increasing reliance on technology and innovative service modeling, it is evident there is broad agreement on the urgent need to adapt to the country's unique demographic circumstances.
Meanwhile, efforts to secure caregiver roles through financial support have also seen recent developments. A new subsidy established via the supplementary budget passed by the National Diet provides one-off payments to care workers, enhancing workplace environments and allowing for the recruitment of care assistants. This funding, amounting to a maximum of 54,000 yen per care worker, can be deployed to improve efficiency within care homes and other facilities.
While this subsidy is not intended solely for salary increases, it allows operators the flexibility to allocate the funds to various necessary areas without being restricted to salary raises. This points to the necessity for operational review and productivity enhancements across all providers, setting the stage for sustainable improvements within the sector. The national government is advocating for the adoption of ICT and other innovative strategies to eliminate inefficiencies and optimize operations.
At the core of the transition toward improved service delivery lies not only the introduction of new technologies but also the imperative to rethink daily operations broadly. By emphasizing the need for innovative productivity efforts, these recent gatherings portray a clear pathway forward for Japan’s care services, aiming to build resilience against predicted demographic trends.
The dialogue around these reforms continues to evolve, illustrating the community's concerted efforts to respond meaningfully to the pressing challenges posed by demographic change and caregiver shortages.