Sanpo-yoshi Communication

President's Column] Preventing Caregivers from Leaving the Workforce

The November 15, 2024 issue of Nikkei Business featured caregiver turnover.
In the past, we have had several people leave the workforce to become caregivers. It is said that by 2030, about 3.18 million people, or 40% of all family caregivers, will be employed (business caregivers).
According to an independent survey conducted by Nikkei Business magazine, a total of 42.8% of those who are currently working and caring for a family member said that they will soon leave their jobs or are wondering whether they should leave their jobs.
Caregiving comes suddenly. And it is impossible to predict how long it may last. With no end in sight, more and more people may decide to "retire for now. However, with the rate of unmarried people continuing to rise, and the default of married couples working together, it is unlikely that the old custom of sacrificing a family member to care for a loved one will be able to survive.
It may be necessary to request early on to the community comprehensive support centers located in each area to establish a system to consult with care managers as early as possible, and in some cases, to establish a system to provide care by combining the necessary care services with the support they can provide themselves. Then, we have no choice but to change care services as circumstances change. Caring for one's parents can be likened to a slow withdrawal. Once dementia starts, the progression of the disease can be slowed down, but there is no cure.
In this era of labor shortages, an important management theme for the future will be how companies can support their valuable workforce so that they do not leave the nursing care sector.
We have also hired one person with experience in the nursing care industry to educate our employees and set up an individual consultation service (in fact, I consulted with him myself). We are still groping in the dark as to what kind of internal systems and support structures are needed, but we would like to take action as soon as possible.

Yoji Hiraki