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
Where to go next
This word will come back at the home assessment or in the first care plan. The full Japanese elder care glossary holds 52 terms, and the long-term care insurance guide shows where each one sits in the process.
If you would rather someone handled the Japanese side, our care navigation service does that, and the first consultation is 30 minutes and free. Definitions here are general orientation and rules vary by municipality; see our editorial policy or contact us with your situation.