The news highlights the growing problem in Japan, where the lack of in-home caregiver support has escalated into a crisis. As Japan's aging population continues to increase, the needed healthcare workers to support them are diminishing. The concern primarily lies within the in-home caregivers' scarcity causing significant stress on families who have to step in. The issue is exacerbating all the more amidst the ongoing pandemic, spiking both urgency and anxiety levels in the affected community.

The aging and shrinking population in Japan poses significant challenges for its healthcare system, with the most urgent being the scarcity of healthcare workers, particularly caregivers. Japanese society highly values respect and care for the elderly, so this issue resonates deeply. Further, with Japanese law mandating family members to care for the elderly, the urgency escalates as more people find it challenging to balance work, personal life, and caregiving responsibilities.

Compared to the US or EU, Japan faces a unique challenge due to its high elderly population percentage, low birth rates, and strict immigration policies that limit the pool of care workers. The US and EU have larger immigrant populations, providing a broader base for recruiting healthcare workers, and they also employ a more diverse range of social support systems and home care options.