Study on backgrounds of Long-term care system diversity in East Asia

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K02229
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 08020:Social welfare-related
• Research Institution: National Institute of Population and Social Security Research
• Principal Investigator: KOJIMA Katsuhisa 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所, 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所, 副所長 (80415819)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 金 貞任 東京福祉大学, 社会福祉学部, 教授 (00364696) ; 沈 潔 日本女子大学, 人間社会学部, 研究員 (20305808) ; 于 洋 城西大学, 現代政策学部, 教授 (60386521)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 高齢者介護 / 介護制度 / 東アジア / 国際比較 / 高齢化対策 / 中国 / 韓国 / 台湾

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we have analyzed the diversity of long-term care (LTC) systems in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China) with a focus on their system components. East Asian LTC system has the diversity and there are system components in which commonalities and differences appear respectively. The former is the essential part of the LTC system, while the latter is more likely to reflect the actual conditions and policy decisions of each country and region. Examples of the former are the certification of LTC needs, available LTC services and LTC cost payment. Examples of the latter include the relation with the private sector, cooperation with healthcare, community-based care and the acceptance of foreign-born LTC workers. The study reveals that a mixture of these factors has led to the diversity of LTC systems in East Asia. In addition to it, we have summarized Taiwan Covid-19 policy measures and its impact on LTC system etc.

Free Research Field

高齢社会論、東アジアの介護制度比較

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

東アジアの介護制度の多様性を、その制度構成要素から明らかにすることで、東アジアの福祉レジームに内包される多様性を学術的に明らかにした。また、わが国の経験への経路依存、脱経路依存があり得る一方、東アジアは人口減少に直面しており、介護制度に共通する課題であることを明らかにした。そして、わが国の介護サービス分野で、官民の交流が増えることが期待されるが、本研究の知見が諸外国の政策や介護サービスの違いの理解の参考になるという社会的な意義も見いだすことができた。