Table 1 Primary providers, places, and services in each type of LTC^a services covered by Japan’s LTCI^b

 for care

Care workers

Recipients’ homes

Care workers regularly assist in caring for recipients with essential daily routine activities.

 for nursing

Nurses or therapists

Recipients’ homes

Nurses or therapists regularly provide nursing or rehabilitation to care recipients.

 for medical support

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dieticians, dentists, or dental hygienists

Recipients’ homes

Medical professionals provide information on the recipients’ medical condition and give medical advice to care workers, care recipients, or informal caregivers with referral forms or by parol.

 for bathing

Nurses and care workers

Recipients’ homes

Nurses and care workers regularly assist with bathing to care recipients.

 for rehabilitation

Therapists

Recipients’ homes

Therapists regularly offer rehabilitation to care recipients.

 for renting welfare equipment

Specialized consultees

Recipients’ homes

Consultees design a plan for renting welfare equipment, including wheelchairs, care beds, devices for postural changes on the bed, arm rails, walkers, sticks, sensing devices against wandering, and transfer aids. Moreover, they even lend and maintain them.

 for care

Care workers and nurses

Day service facilities

Care recipients regularly stay at the day service facilities during the daytime to prevent the social isolation of care recipients and reduce the burden of informal caregivers.

 for rehabilitation

Therapists, nurses, and care workers

LTC health facilities, hospitals, or clinics

Care recipients regularly receive rehabilitation during the daytime to improve and maintain their physical and psychological condition.

 for care

Care workers

LTC welfare facilities

Care recipients stay at LTC welfare facilities for one day to one month to reduce the burden of informal caregivers and maintain the physical and psychological conditions of the recipients.

 for care with medical services

Medical professions and care workers

LTC health or medical facilities, hospitals, and clinics with beds

Care recipients stay at the facilities with medical care for one day to one month to reduce the burden of informal caregivers and maintain the medical condition of recipients.

 at LTC welfare facilities

Care workers and nurses

LTC welfare facilities

The facilities provide a place for recipients who have difficulties in living at home due to a high degree of care needed.

 at LTC health facilities

Care workers, physicians, and nurses

LTC health facilities

The facilities provide a place for rehabilitation to care recipients.

 at LTC medical facilities

Physicians and nurses

LTC medical facilities

The facilities offer an LTC with medical treatments to care recipients. Hospitals and clinics with beds run the facilities.

 at qualified nursing homes

Care workers and nurses

Nursing homes

Qualified nursing homes, which fulfill the required government facility criteria, provide a place for recipients who have difficulty living at home.