Can we construct social systems using multigenerational mutual support?

Toward establishing “Positive spiral of care” which makes community sustainable

Abstract

Japan is experiencing rapid increase in aging population, combined with a low birthrate and decrease of total population. It may be important to promote and generalize the concept of Circle of care, which circulates multigenerational mutual support. Therefore, we propose multigenerational mutual support system based on the concept of Positive spiral of care. The concept aims at developing social policies that include the concept circle of care, which may contribute to achieve sustainable society. Multigenerational mutual support system based on the concept of Positive spiral of care should include 4 areas of support; 1) children and childrearing, 2) persons with disabilities, 3)financially disadvantaged, 4) the elderly. To circulate the multigenerational mutual support in the four areas of support continuously, we introduce a tentative plan of building a platform Integrated support center for multigenerational residents. This study investigated nation-wide advanced examples and demonstrated that these examples were categorized into four types. All the examples aimed at supporting multigenerational and individual high risk cases. From the preventive view point of these risks, multigenerational approach should be implemented to population-based approach for enhancing community.