Current state and issues of the adult guardianship program: Examination of the adult guardianship program in difficult cases of older adults with dementia

Kae Ito

Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital

Several issues are apparent from statistics published by the Family Bureau, General Secretariat, Supreme Court of Japan. One is the affordability of the program; financial reasons sometimes prevent use of the adult guardianship program by low-income earners in municipalities with no subsidy program that covers the application fee and costs for guardianship. Another is that it is difficult for older adults with dementia to develop a trusting relationship with the adult guardian. Older adults with dementia who have cognitive impairment judged to be at the level of lacking the capacity to appreciate their own situation have difficulty understanding the program and using it for themselves, and problems between them and their guardian sometimes result. This article discusses the current state and issues of the adult guardianship program through examining actual cases.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kae Ito, Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital (2-1-1 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 156-0057, Japan)