Glossary
16 terms
When care starts, a lot of unfamiliar words arrive at once. Each entry gives the plain meaning, then the Japanese term and how it is read — so you can point at it, or say it, at the counter.
Contents
Who to ask Community Comprehensive Support Centre · Care manager
Certification and paperwork Care-level certification · Assessment visit · Doctor's written opinion
Services at home Home-visit care (home help) · Day service
Places to move into Special nursing home · Geriatric health services facility · Group home · Fee-based home with care
Money Monthly benefit ceiling · Daily-living support scheme · Adult guardianship · High-cost care service benefit · Reduced meal and room charge certification
Who to ask
Who to ask
Community Comprehensive Support Centre
地域包括支援センター chiiki hokatsu shien sentaa
The free public desk for any question about elderly care. Which one serves you is fixed by your address.
A public consultation desk run under contract to the city. You can ask about welfare, health and long-term care for older people free of charge, and the staff can file the care-level certification application on your behalf. You do not need to hold a certification to use it.
Care manager
ケアマネジャー（介護支援専門員） kea-manejaa / kaigo shien senmon-in
The professional who writes the care plan and coordinates with providers.
Writes the care plan for people certified at Care Levels 1-5 and arranges services with providers. They work at a care management office. Writing the plan costs the user nothing - it is paid in full by the insurance. For Support Levels 1-2 the support centre writes the plan instead.
Certification and paperwork
Certification and paperwork
Care-level certification
要介護認定 yo-kaigo nintei
The assessment of how much care a person needs. Nothing can be used without it.
The decision required before using any long-term care insurance service. A city assessor visits, the family doctor writes an opinion, and a review board decides. There are seven levels, from Support Level 1-2 through Care Level 1-5. The level sets which services can be used and the monthly ceiling. The result can also be "not eligible".
Assessment visit
認定調査 nintei chosa
A city assessor visits and checks the person against a nationwide checklist.
After the application, a city assessor visits and works through a nationwide checklist covering physical and mental condition and daily life. It matters that the assessor sees an accurate picture of an ordinary day, so a family member sitting in and filling in the gaps is recommended.
Doctor's written opinion
主治医意見書 shujii ikensho
A medical statement from the family doctor. The city requests it directly.
One of the two inputs to the decision, written by the family doctor. Neither the person nor the family has to arrange it or pay for it - the city asks the doctor directly. The application form has a field for the clinic and doctor's name, so having those ready speeds things up.
Services at home
Services at home
Home-visit care (home help)
訪問介護 homon kaigo
A helper comes to the home for personal care or household support.
A home helper visits and provides personal care (bathing, toileting, meals) or household support (cooking, laundry, cleaning). Going along to a hospital appointment can be included. Where family members live in the same household, household support may be limited.
Day service
デイサービス（通所介護） dei saabisu / tsusho kaigo
Daytime visits to a centre for meals, bathing and exercise.
The person spends the day at a centre, with meals, bathing, activities and functional training. Transport is usually included. As well as keeping a rhythm to the week, it exists to give the family time to rest.
Places to move into
Places to move into
Special nursing home
特別養護老人ホーム（特養） tokubetsu yogo rojin homu / tokuyo
A public home for people needing constant care. Low cost, long waiting lists.
As a rule for people certified at Care Level 3 or above. Residents live there long term with help for meals, bathing and toileting. Because it is publicly funded the cost is comparatively low, and places are allocated by assessed need, not by the order of application.
Geriatric health services facility
介護老人保健施設（老健） kaigo rojin hoken shisetsu / roken
A rehabilitation facility aimed at returning home. Stays are meant to be temporary.
For rehabilitation and medical care after leaving hospital, with the aim of going back home. Doctors, nurses and rehabilitation staff are on site. Because the goal is returning home, stays are usually three to six months - it is not a long-term place to live like a special nursing home.
Group home
グループホーム（認知症対応型共同生活介護） guruupu homu
A small shared household for people with dementia. Normally for residents of that city only.
Five to nine people with a dementia diagnosis, certified at Support Level 2 or above, live together in a home-like setting. It is a community-based service, so as a rule the person must be registered as a resident of that city.
Fee-based home with care
介護付有料老人ホーム（特定施設入居者生活介護） kaigo-tsuki yuryo rojin homu
A private residence where the home’s own staff provide the care.
A privately run residence designated to provide care itself. Because the home’s own staff give the care, a resident can usually stay as their care level rises. Being private, costs vary widely between homes and some ask for a lump sum on entry.
Money
Money
Monthly benefit ceiling
区分支給限度基準額 kubun shikyu gendo kijungaku
The monthly cap on what insurance covers, set by care level. Anything above it is paid in full.
For services used at home, each care level has a monthly cap. Within the cap the user pays 10-30%; anything used beyond the cap is paid in full by the user. The care manager works within this when writing the plan.
Daily-living support scheme
日常生活自立支援事業 nichijo seikatsu jiritsu shien jigyo
The council of social welfare helps with everyday money, under a contract.
For people whose judgement has become a little uncertain, staff from the council of social welfare visit and help with welfare paperwork, paying bills and withdrawing savings. It is a contract, so it can only be used while the capacity to make one remains. After that, the route is adult guardianship.
Adult guardianship
成年後見制度 seinen koken seido
Protects the property and rights of someone whose capacity has declined. Applied for at the family court.
A person is appointed to manage property and enter contracts on behalf of someone whose capacity to judge has become insufficient. The application goes to the family court. There are three levels according to capacity, and a voluntary form arranged in advance. Once it begins, it generally continues.
High-cost care service benefit
高額介護サービス費 kogaku kaigo saabisu hi
A refund when a household's monthly out-of-pocket cost goes over a ceiling.
If what a household pays in one month exceeds the ceiling, the excess is refunded on application. The ceiling depends on income. It is not refunded automatically - you have to apply.
Reduced meal and room charge certification
負担限度額認定 futan gendogaku nintei
Cuts the meal and room charges in a facility. Judged on income and savings.
Reduces the meal and room charges when staying in a care insurance facility or using short stays. Savings and other assets count as well as income, so you will be asked for a copy of the bank book when applying.
You do not have to know the words first
Nobody expects you to arrive knowing the vocabulary. Support centre staff and care managers explain things on the assumption that you do not. Start by asking — it is free.
These entries describe the national rules in general terms. How they are applied differs by city and by provider. Before starting any procedure, confirm with your city's official page or its desk.