In Japan, the number of children who do not want to take care of their elderly and sick parents is increasing rapidly.
According to an Abema Times report, a man in his 70s was hospitalized in January due to health problems. His son, who had been estranged for 30 years, said he did not want to take care of his father and asked an agent to take care of him. The family agency said it will take charge of sending the man to a nursing facility and funeral procedures when he dies.
Hideki Endo, CEO of LMN, which provides family agency services for senior citizens, said, “The number of requests has increased three to four times over the past two to three years.” The demand of children who feel limited in taking care of their parents is increasing.
It also plays the role of a ‘communication network’ connecting the elderly with administrations, hospitals, and companies. If you pay 440,000 yen for registration, you can provide ‘life support’ such as regular visits, emergency business trips, or procedures for admission and hospitalization. In particular, the use of services by elderly men without family or siblings is also increasing. Even if you have a family, you often ask for it yourself.
Hospital referrals are also increasing. After being contacted by the hospital for parents’ first time in decades, children are asking for service counseling, saying, “I have to take care of them, but I don’t know how.”
The family agency service has two faces. You can get professional help when taking care of your family. However, they also tend to pay for services because they do not want to take care of themselves. It would be a good service if you received professional help rather than leaving your parents in charge.
SOPHIA KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
