These are unpaid neighborhood volunteers who keep a quiet eye on older residents, and they can be a lifeline when you live far away. They are not service providers, but they notice when something is wrong and can alert the right office. The support center can connect you to the one for your parent's area. Families overlook them entirely. A friendly local contact who checks in is worth arranging before a crisis.
Read more: Local welfare contacts
Related terms
- 地域包括支援センター（chiiki houkatsu shien center）— community support center
- 社会福祉協議会（shakyou）— social welfare council
- 認知症（ninchishou）— dementia
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).