Healthcare provisions in the aging society: Japanese perspectives

Abstract

As the home of the oldest population in the world, Japan is transforming its healthcare system to prepare for year 2025, when all the first baby boomers will be aged 75 and older. Japan achieved universal medical insurance and long-term care insurance systems in 1961 and 2000, respectively. A core vision of the ongoing reform efforts is the Community-Based Integrated Care System, where the whole community (the local government, professionals, and residents) works together to integrate various services (e.g., housing, medical and health care, long-term care, and daily living support and services) so that older adults, even with cognitive impairment and without family support, can remain in the community with dignity until the end. Many of challenges and opportunities associated with population aging in Japan are shared by other aging societies. Global co-learning (or two-way learning) is essential for developing innovative products, services, and systems to promote healthy aging in communities.