Private homes spanning modest to luxury, in two flavors: care-staffed, or residential where you bring care in from outside. Cost and what is actually included vary enormously, so the brochure is not the contract. Families abroad pick on photos and price and miss the staffing and exit terms. Read the disclosure document closely and tour before committing, and ask exactly which care is on-site versus arranged.
Read more: Nursing homes and elderly facilities
Related terms
- サ高住（sakouju）— serviced senior housing
- 重要事項説明書（juuyou jikou setsumeisho）— disclosure document
- 特別養護老人ホーム（tokuyou）— special nursing home
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).