Position of the Concept of “Hope” in Japanese Welfare　System for Elderly

In Relation to the “Needs”　Arguments over Macro Policy and Micro Practice

Abstract

　These days, the concept of “hope” has attracted attention in social sciences.

This paper aims to explore how the concept of “hope” has influenced the discussion

about “needs” in the field of social welfare, especially focusing on the

realm of support for elderly. Concretely, this paper analyzed two kinds of materials,

one is earlier studies over “needs”，“demand”, and “hope”, and the other

is governmental documents published around 2000 when long-term care insurance

system launched. We can see the transition of focus on discussion in the

field of social welfare, from the difference between “needs” and “demand” in

the first half of 1990s, to the relationship of “needs” and “hope” after 2000. On

introducing long-term care insurance system, the government reports say, people

should respect elderly’s “hope” and “their own lives” to protect their “dignity”.

There are seen the new point of view other than conventional concept of

“needs”.

　Compared to the concept of “demand”, the concept of “hope” which could be

the base of self-determination, is suitable for the idea of “support for self-help”

and “protection of dignity” put up in long-term care insurance act. To find one’s

“hope” is indispensable to construct rapport at the level of micro practice. On

the other hand, macro policy theory should have other criteria of assessment

than “hope”, not to overlook the presence of social minority who really require

welfare support. Therefore, it has still an important meaning to discuss the

“needs based on social judgement”. Introducing the concept of “hope” enables　

us to make the range of “needs” more clear in the field of social welfare.