01/06/2000

Building Social Systems to Support the Participation of Elderly Persons

Emiko Takeishi 

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1. Introduction

A national debate has been underway on how to save the pension and long-term care insur-ance systems. Naturally, as people grow older, their financial livelihood and health needs change fundamentally from those of the working age generation. This means that society must enhance its safety net to better meet the contingencies of old age.

However, in approaching aging issues, the limitations of the present policy approach — which essentially regards aging as a disability — are becoming increasingly clear. Aging is creating a critical need to find ways in which healthy and willing elderly persons can contribute to society. This calls for a comprehensive approach that facilitates participation of elderly per-sons in society, allows the elderly to contribute their skills to society, and builds a foundation enabling the elderly to live independently. Once this system is in place, society can then better support the elderly when their health or financial conditions deteriorate.

In this paper, we discuss survey results that show an inclination toward independent living in old age, and particularly focus on the demand for participation in society among the elderly. We then consider the need for positive forms of support for daily life from a perspective other than the prevailing disabilities oriented approach.

Emiko Takeishi

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