An assessor visits the home and asks the parent to demonstrate ordinary tasks: standing, dressing, remembering the date. Proud parents minimize their struggles, and good days mislead. Be present if you can, in person or by phone, and describe the hard days plainly with concrete examples. Underselling difficulty here produces a level too low for the help actually needed, which is the most common and costly mistake.
Read more: Preparing for the assessment
Related terms
- 要介護認定（youkaigo nintei）— care-need certification
- 主治医意見書（shujii ikensho）— doctor's opinion
- 要介護1–5（youkaigo）— care levels 1–5
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).