Import of Foreign Caregivers

For fear of dilution of culture and national character, Japan has long been resistant towards the entry of foreigners, especially unskilled foreign workers, into her country. (Carmel A. Morgan, 2001) It thus came as a huge surprise when the bilateral agreements, Japan-Philippines Economics Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) and Japan-Indonesia Economics Partnership Agreement (JIEPA) were ratified to allow for the entry of caregivers and nurses from Philippines and Indonesia, an initiative otherwise impossible in the past due to Japan's strict immigration rules.

Addressing the demand for care due to an ageing population

As Japan continues to experience unparalleled ageing, the supply of manpower in the eldercare field can no longer keep up with the needs of the aged. The rise in old-age dependency ratio means that the same child in the past now has to carry a heavier load in terms of the number of elderly-at-home he has to care for. Admission of foreigners to becomes especially critical, whether in hospitals, nursing homes or the familial household. This need for external help is exacerbated by the waning popularity of caregiving jobs among Japanese citizens due to associated hard work and low wages. Foreigners, on the contrary, view "even the most poorly compensated work in Japan more desirable than skilled and professional work at home" (Carmel A. Morgan, 2001). Hence, the only plausible solution to this demographic crisis is to tap the large pool of foreigners since the Japanese populace is no longer in any capacity to provide any feasible means to alleviate the burden.

Supplementing the work of modern-day women

With the erosion of the Confucian ethic which places individual preferences secondary to the collective good of the family, nuclear families have emerged and women are actively involved in the labour force. Women who assume dual roles are facing immense difficulties participating both in the labour market and providing in-home eldercare. Hiring foreign health aides in these homes would greatly assist the women, relieving their burden while not completely substituting the traditional caregiving role of these daughters or daughters-in-law.

The edge of human touch

One important advantage of foreign caregivers as compared to robotic aids is that the human element is still retained. Robots are incapable of offering the same level of emotional satisfaction that human can such as express sympathy and compassion. On the contrary, foreign caregivers can provide caregiving that goes beyond mere physical assistance.

Acknowledging the flaws

Regrettably, poor language skills remain a significant barrier to effective caregiving. Japanese elderly resonate with the view that clear communication is critical to building a healthy, quasi-family