Through advances in medical treatment
technology, the best medical care available
can be given, yet at the same time this can
lengthen the period of care. In addition, with
the progressing trend toward nuclear families
and women entering the work force, caring for
the elderly at home has become difficult for
some households. Concomitantly, there is a
shortage of facilities such as nursing homes
to care for the aged. This has led to the aged,
who primarily require more nursing care than
medical treatment, being cared for at
hospitals for long periods of time rather than
at nursing care facilities, thus accelerating the
increase in medical expenditures for the
elderly.