Japan Press Weekly

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2011 January 12 - 18 [WELFARE]

90% of caretakers of handicapped adults are the parents

A survey on care provision of handicapped adults living at home shows that 90% of caretakers are the parents, most of whom are elderly.

The survey was taken by the Liaison Council of Disabled People’s Workshops (Kyosa-ren) to determine how disabled adults who work at these workshops are taken care of at home. This is the first survey looking into this area of concern.

The care referred to here not only means responding to physical but also mental disabilities.

Mothers account for 60% of caretakers at home, half of whom are over 60 years old. For example, one of survey respondents is a mother aged 93 who cares for her 72-year-old son who is mentally disabled.

However, public care services for the disabled are used by less than half of the disabled living at home.

Mental fatigue from caretaking was indicated by 85% of the caretakers, and they stated that they have reached the limits of their mental and physical strength.

Ono Hiroshi, who is in charge of policy and research of the Liaison Council, said, “We were surprised to find that the care provided at home was so heavily dependent on aged parents. The survey exposes anew the problems and defects of the Services and Supports for Persons with Disabilities Act, the controversial law forcing the disabled to pay for the costs of services based on the principle of the beneficiary having to pay.”

“Administrative authorities must stop assuming that it is natural that parents are to look after their children even after they have become adults. We demand that a public care service system be established so that anyone in need can use the service no matter when and where it may be needed,” Ono stressed.