When you do not know where to begin, this free municipal window is the call to make, covering certification, services, dementia, and safety. There is one for every district, tied to the parent's address. They can start the certification and point you to a care manager. Families abroad waste weeks searching privately; this office exists precisely to orient you. Phone them first, even with a vague worry.
Read more: Community support centers
Related terms
- 要介護認定（youkaigo nintei）— care-need certification
- ケアマネジャー（care manager / kea mane）— care manager
- 民生委員（minsei iin）— welfare commissioner
Getting help with this
See the full Japanese elder care glossary, or start with our long-term care insurance guide. If you would rather have someone handle the Japanese side, our care navigation service helps foreign families step by step, and you can contact us with your situation. Definitions are general orientation; rules vary by municipality (see our editorial policy).