Utilizing Gilbert and Terrell’s product analysis method to examine the main
content of long-term care policies of Germany and Japan, this review compared the
two countries’ policies for caring for the elderly with dementia.
The result of the analysis on policies of Germany and Japan showed the
following differences. For the target group, Germany aims for the entire nation
and Japan aims for the insured aged 40 and over, which are divided into two
groups. For the eligibility rating, Germany simplifies it in three ratings and Japan
divides it into seven ratings. For financing the care costs, Germany has the
insurance premium rate regulated by law by taking income into consideration and
Japan has more complicated system than that of Germany because it sets insurance
premium rates by taking account of other factors besides income. For deciding on
care expenses, Germany has the rule of weighing prevention and rehabilitation first
before providing care expenses, and home-based care before facility-based care,
while the Japanese system pays for expenses to those with a long-term care status.
In its Long-term Care Insurance Act for the Elderly, the Korean policy is clear
about giving the priority to prevention expenses and home-based care expenses.