National Feb. 15, 2012 - 05:05AM JST ( 6 )

TOKYO —

The government’s reported plan to roll out a nationwide 24-hour home care service for households with elderly people by April, will be restricted to 13 locations throughout Japan, according to an investigation by the Nippon Television Network (NTV).

The scheme, to be covered under the public nursing care insurance scheme from fiscal 2012, was unveiled last month and was presented as an attempt to help the elderly become more self-reliant by facilitating in-home nursing care nationwide.

Under the new system, the government said it was hoping to curb the increasing costs of nursing care services by allocating extra funds to welfare facilities that discharge elderly people to receive services at home. It also announced plans to give extra funds to caregivers who offer rehabilitation services to prevent elderly patients’ mobility from deteriorating.

With the launch of the home care service, the health ministry said that elderly people would be able to receive unlimited medical and nursing services at any time, for a monthly fee of up to 30,000 yen.

The government also announced plans to raise the total fee for nursing care services by 1.2%, the first amendment in charges since fiscal 2009, to increase wages for caregivers.

However, an NTV investigation has revealed that the scheme will not be rolled out nationwide in April, despite the government’s claims. A questionnaire revealed that of 1,472 locations throughout the country, only 13 would be test running the scheme next month. It also revealed that another 67 towns would be added to the list in fiscal 2012.

Sources reveal that the reason for the delay is a shortage of medical professionals willing to work nights.

Japan Today