2019 Volume 16 Pages 99-116
In recent years, in the field of elderly welfare in Japan, citizen welfare has
been promoted as a livelihood support system composed of community initiatives
or mutual support, based on the government’s policy mission to form a
community-based integrated care system. This paper first ascertains policy
trends at the national level. Next, it presents the perspectives needed to understand
the actual situation, namely, restructuring the paradigm of “socialization
of care,” restructuring spheres of intimacy, and progress in the areas of social
class and economic disparity. This paper then ascertains the overall national situation
of community-initiated livelihood support. In addition, it presents the results
of an interview survey that the authors conducted with two local governments
in Tokyo about the current development of government foundations for
livelihood support. The responses to the interview survey are examined from
the above perspectives. Finally, this paper organizes the arguments developed
and summarizes the insights and suggestions obtained.
