For a bedbound parent who can no longer use the bathroom safely, a small crew arrives with a portable tub and gives a full warm bath at the bedside. There is no Western equivalent, so families do not think to ask for it. It is a covered service the care manager can add to the plan. If bathing has become the daily flashpoint, raise this before resorting to sponge baths or skipping them.
Read more: Bathing an elderly parent
Related terms
- 訪問介護（houmon kaigo）— home-visit care
- ケアプラン（care plan）— care plan
- 福祉用具貸与（fukushi yougu taiyo）— equipment rental
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).