Long-Term Care (Nursing) Insurance

In the previous blog [What is the right choice for retirement housing, Vol. 2], we wrote about the system of long-term care insurance in general.

This blog, we will write about what long-term care insurance can do for you and the services it provides.

Services Available through Long-Term Care Insurance

The services available through long-term care insurance can be broadly divided into the following categories

Services available to those certified as requiring 1-5 years of nursing care (long-term care benefits)

Services available to those certified as requiring 1 to 2 years of support (preventive benefits)

The services available to those who are certified as requiring long-term care 1-5 (long-term care benefits) and those who are certified as requiring support 1-2 (preventive benefits).

The main services are as follows

◆ Consultation on the use of nursing care services and preparation of care plans

The creation of a care plan is fully covered by insurance, regardless of whether you need nursing care or support. Services such as housework assistance that can be received at home (home-visit services)

Home-visit care ①Living assistance (cleaning, laundry, shopping, cooking, etc.)
*This service may not be available if there isn’t another person living with you.

Home-visit care ②Physical care (includes bathing and personal care)

Home-Visit Nursing Care (3)
Under the direction of a physician, a nurse checks health, treats bedsores, and provides medical care such as intravenous therapy.

Home-visit bathing care (such as bringing a bathtub to the home and receiving bathing assistance)

For those who are bedridden and have difficulty using the bathtub in their homes, nursing staff and nurses visit them in a mobile bathing van or other vehicles to provide a bathtub and care for their bathing needs.

Home-visit rehabilitation (having a rehabilitation specialist visit and receive rehabilitation at home)

In-home medical care management and guidance (visits by physicians, dentists, pharmacists, dietitians, to receive medical care management and guidance)

Home-visit services are available for this type of service.

However, cleaning of rooms, weeding of yards, and general cleaning other than the person’s own are not covered by long-term care insurance.

In-home services are subject to a payment limit standard (payment limit) for each level of nursing care, and services are provided within this limit according to the care plan.

Any services used in excess of the maximum amount are to be paid in full out of pocket.

◆Day service with outings to facilities, etc.

Day-care services (day services) are provided to enable users to lead independent daily lives at home as much as possible. Also, to relieve isolation of users who stay at home, to maintain physical and mental functions, and to reduce the burden of caregiving they may have received from family members.

(1) Preventive Day-Care Services

Daytime services for 3 hours or longer, including bathing, meals, recreation, and functional training.

(2) Short-Term Day-Care Services

Day care services for less than 3 hours, including bathing, meals, recreation, and functional training.

(3) Selective Day-Care Services

Intensive programs for improving musculoskeletal function, oral function, or nutrition are provided in a short period of time.

(1) and (2) are per month; if used even once, a monthly fee is required. (3) is the fee per visit.

Outpatient Rehabilitation (Day Care)

Physical therapists and occupational therapists provide rehabilitation for independence in daily life at facilities and hospitals.

Per month basis, even one time use will require a monthly user fee.

Per visit, more than 6 hours and less than 7 hours in a regular-sized office.

There are some interactions among the elderly, such as group activities to improve daily living functions, and the facility provides transportation from the user’s home to the facility, but the cost of food and diapers are not included.

Short-Stay Services

The program provides short-term lodging at a facility, support for meals, bathing as well as rehabilitation support to maintain and improve physical and mental functions. This service can be used to reduce the burden of nursing care on family members and to prepare for moving into a facility.

Short-term residential care (short stay at welfare facilities)

Short-term stay at a welfare facility for the elderly (special nursing home for the elderly) to provide nursing care such as meals and bathing, as well as functional training.

Short-term residential medical care (short stay in a medical facility)

Short-term stay in a geriatric health care facility or other facility to provide medical care, nursing care, and functional training under medical supervision.

There are also other services that can be received through a combination of visitation, commuting, and accommodation, as well as services for the use of welfare equipment.

We will write about these other services in the next blog entry.

For additional information or any questions please contact us here
Email: info@remax-apex.com