Every hospital admission of any length puts you on a discharge clock, and this is the person who manages where the parent goes next. Find them in the first week, not when discharge is announced, because beds and home services take time to line up. They speak the system fluently and can trigger certification. Distant families who wait passively get handed a date with no plan; introduce yourself early instead.
Read more: Hospital discharge and the MSW
Related terms
- 地域連携室（chiiki renkei shitsu）— discharge planning office
- 区分変更（kubun henkou）— level change request
- ショートステイ（short stay）— short stay (respite)
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).