The development of the Japanese society is characterized by a lot of similarities to Germany. This is why I have chosen the country to compare especially the Health Care System with the German one.
Not only the economic achievements are comparable, but first of all the Demographic Change. In 2020 28% of the Japanese population will be over 65 years. In Germany it is prognosticated to be around 21% (Tab.1).
Moreover the Japanese Health Care System is known as own of the cheapest of the industrialized countries. This leads to the question of adoption of some parts or ideas from the Japanese system to the German one.
In my elaboration I want to describe a case of a family in Japan regarding the family and work situation, the Health Care System in general and additionally the system of taking care of the elderly and the children.
My example family has got following parts:
The mother is 42 years old, she works as a nurse in an outpatient department of a local government. In addition she has to take care of her parents almost every day. The father is 45 years old, works as an engineer and likes his hobby, which is driving motorbikes. The daughter of them is 7 and their son is 13, both go to school. The grandmother has got dementia, she is 76 years old and lives together with her husband, who is 76 and has got diabetes. They live in the neighborhood of their children and grandchildren.
Case 1: Values, culture, roles of the family members.
Case 2: Health Care System of Japan in comparison to the German one. What happens after a traffic accident of the father?
Case 3: Elderly and Child Care in general and in the case of the accident and depression of the mother.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 CASE 1
2.1 HOME FACILITIES/ AREA WHERE THE FAMILY IS LIVING
2.2 CULTURAL VALUES/ RELIGION
2.3 RELATIONSHIPS/ ROLES IN THE FAMILY
2.3.1 Domestic situation
2.3.2 Male-Female Relations
2.3.3 Values of the family
3 CASE 2
3.1 HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF JAPAN
3.1.1 History
3.1.2 Insurances
3.1.3 Financing System
3.1.4 Hospitals and doctors
3.1.5 Costs for services
3.1.6 Problems and aims
4 CASE 3
4.1 ELDERLY CARE
4.1.1 Demographic Change
4.1.2 The “Gold plans”
4.1.3 The long- term care insurance system
4.2 CHILD CARE
5 CONCLUSION
6 LIST OF LITERATURE
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper aims to provide a comparative analysis of the Japanese health, elderly, and childcare systems in relation to the German model. Through a central case study of a Japanese family, the research explores how the Japanese system functions under the pressures of demographic change and how families manage care responsibilities given the existing social and health infrastructure.
- Comparative analysis of the Japanese and German health care systems.
- Examination of the socio-cultural role of the family ("Ie") in caregiving.
- Evaluation of long-term care insurance and elderly care strategies ("Gold plans").
- Impact of the demographic shift on current and future care sustainability.
- Assessment of childcare provisions and work-life balance challenges.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.6 Problems and aims
Like many other countries Japans Health Care System suffers in cause of the Demographic Change. Five major problems become more and more apparent: growing consumer consciousness, a rapidly aging population, rising costs, inequality of burden and quality of care:First, people are more conscious and want to have detailed information by the physicians. Ethical questions become more important and the relationship between patient and provider needs to be changed, otherwise the confidence will decrease.
Secondly the aging population costs a lot, because they need more medical supply and care institutions. And simultaneously less children are born, who would once be able to pay for the system. In April 2000 the government implemented the long- term care insurance program, which is orientated on the German system.
The third and most serious problem are the costs, which rise through the Demographic Change, but also because the downturn of the economy. People don´t earn so much money and therefore premiums become lower. Additionally people pay less taxes , which are an important part of the financing system. At least in 2002 prices for medical services and drugs were reduced again by the government by an average of 2.7 %. Moreover they wanted to change the payment system into DPC (Diagnosis and Procedure Combinations), but only 10% of hospitals are able to implement, because 90% don´t even code with ICD- system. Moreover there are too many beds in hospitals and people stay too long at hospital (Tab 3).
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the structural similarities between the Japanese and German societies and sets the foundation for the comparative case study of a specific family.
2 CASE 1: Analyzes the cultural and social context of Japan, focusing on urban living, religious values, and the traditional family structure known as "Ie".
3 CASE 2: Provides a comprehensive overview of the Japanese health care system, including historical developments, financing models, and the challenges of service costs.
4 CASE 3: Discusses the mechanisms for elderly and child care, specifically evaluating the demographic crisis and the implementation of long-term care insurance.
5 CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings, highlighting the limitations of the Japanese social welfare system compared to Germany and the reliance on familial support structures.
Keywords
Japan, Germany, Health Care System, Demographic Change, Elderly Care, Child Care, Case Study, Family Values, Ie, Long-term Care Insurance, Social Welfare, Financing, Hospitals, Medical Costs, Sustainability
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this study?
The study investigates the Japanese health, elderly, and childcare systems, contrasting them with the German welfare model through a detailed case study of a typical Japanese family.
What are the core thematic fields covered?
The key themes include the socio-cultural influence of the family, the structure of health care insurance, the economic challenges of an aging population, and the effectiveness of welfare policies.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary aim is to determine how the Japanese system handles demographic shifts and caregiving needs, and whether its mechanisms could offer insights or lessons for the German system.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a comparative analysis approach supported by an illustrative case study of a Japanese family to ground theoretical policy discussions in reality.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the "Ie" family concept, the evolution of health care reforms, financing models, hospital management, and specific strategies like the "Gold plans" for elderly care.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Central keywords include Health Care System, Demographic Change, Elderly Care, Ie (family system), and welfare sustainability.
How does the Japanese family system ("Ie") affect caregiving?
The "Ie" system places a strong responsibility on family members and relatives to support each other, which remains a crucial pillar of the care structure, especially when state support is insufficient.
Why is the demographic change particularly challenging for Japan?
Japan faces a shrinking workforce and a rapidly growing population of elderly citizens, which creates immense pressure on the healthcare financing system and necessitates systemic shifts toward home-based care.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anja Hellmann (Autor:in), 2009, Japan: Health-, Elderly- and Child- Care in comparison to the German system: based on a case study, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/149799
