We previously talked about some of the wonderful nursing homes and day care facilities available for seniors in Japan, but everything has a dark side. 1 in 5 prisoners are over 65? Housing discrimination? Let’s talk about that, the pension system, healthcare, housing and more.
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Frankie - @franklinthewoman
Cheyenne - @lostwithlow
Words mentioned/useful words
和風 wafuu - Japanese style or atmosphere
大寒 daikan - "major cold" solar term (approx. January 20, roughly the coldest time of the year), extreme cold
孤独死 kodokushi - dying alone
団地 danchi - group land, block housing. Not always public housing but often is
マンション manshon - condominium, apartment building
考え方 kangae-kata - way of thinking
掲示板 keijiban - bulletin board
References:
Video about Japan’s prisons: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6t8Sb1T/
The Japan Reporter (Nobita) - Japan's Rental Housing Problem Today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAb4qV15ev4&ab_channel=TheJapanReporter
CNN article
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/18/asia/japan-elderly-largest-womens-prison-intl-hnk-dst/index.html
Panel begins mission to end anti-elderly bias in housing
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14948178#:~:text=A%20survey%20by%20the%20land,Sachiko%20Miwa%20and%20Shinichi%20Sekine.)
More of Japan’s elderly are lonely and have fewer friends, white paper says
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/21/japan/society/aging-society-white-paper/
Social isolation, loneliness, and their correlates in older Japanese adults
https://www.jages.net/kenkyuseika/paper_eng/?action=common_download_main&upload_id=18229#:~:text=Results%3A%20Among%20older%20Japanese%20adults,physical%20and%20mental%20health%20were
Nearly 40,000 people died home alone in Japan this year, report says
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx6wwp5d5o
Japan's seniors to pay bigger share of medical expenses from 2022 https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Health-Care/Japan-s-seniors-to-pay-bigger-share-of-medical-expenses-from-2022
More than 40% of single elderly women struggle to live in poverty
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15192214
Strengthening support for elderly people living alone in financial difficulties and children of households receiving welfare
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240209/k10014353101000.html
Homeless population is getting older
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20220428-23809/
Prisons are like nursing homes
https://www.nhk.or.jp/politics/articles/feature/21325.html#:~:text=刑務所は、支所も含める,率にして11.8％。
Nursing care jobs on guideable
https://jobs.guidable.co/en/offers/11738
Volunteer programs
https://jss.ca/en/services/programs/senior-support/#:~:text=Konnichiwa%20Program&text=In%20every%20community%2C%20some%20people,to%20participate%20in%20the%20community.
https://www.cotoclub.com/10-volunteering-opportunities-in-japan-how-to-get-involved-and-learn-in-a-meaningful-way/#:~:text=Founded%20in%202006%2C%20HandsOn%20Tokyo,The%20opportunities%20are%20varied.
Restaurant Cheyenne mentioned - Umeda Canaris
https://www.opefac.com/restaurant/canaris/
Time stamps
00:00 intro
9:29 Tochigi women’s prison
12:14 Social isolation/dying alone
17:17 Poverty & the pension system
29:03 Healthcare costs & nursing homes
32:56 Housing discrimination
37:43 Public housing
43:02 Elderly in prisons
50:39 Volunteer programs
56:35 Government solutions
59:44 Nursing care workers needed
