VIENID Start practicing

Home › Lessons › National Exam for Certified Care Workers 介護福祉士

Fundamentals of Caregiving (Kaigo no Kihon)

National Exam for Certified Care Workers 介護福祉士 · 介護福祉士国家試験(筆記) · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

Socialization of Care and the Ideal Certified Care Worker

With declining birthrates, an aging population, and nuclear families, family-only caregiving reached its limits; the establishment of the Long-Term Care Insurance System in 2000 promoted the 'socialization of care' (Kaigo no Shakaika).

Today, complex challenges have intensified, including 'Double Care' (simultaneous childcare and eldercare), 'Young Carers' (children under 18 providing care), and the '8050 Problem' (isolated parents in their 80s and socially withdrawn children in their 50s).

Against this backdrop, the 'Ideal Certified Care Worker Profile' emphasizes care that upholds dignity, independence support, high ethical standards, and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Care workers are not mere personal attendants, but professionals who support users' physical, mental, and overall lives using evidence-based knowledge and skills.

Furthermore, toward realizing a Community-Based Inclusive Society, it is essential to provide support while connecting with community resources beyond facility walls.

Key points


  • Understand modern complex issues: Double Care (childcare + nursing care), Young Carers, and the 8050 Problem

  • Ideal Certified Care Worker: Professional practice supporting dignity and independence alongside multidisciplinary teamwork
WordMeaning
Socialization of care (Kaigo no Shakaika)
Double Care and Young Carers
The 8050 Problem
Ideal Certified Care Worker Profile

Certified Social Worker and Certified Care Worker Act and Professional Ethics

Article 2 of the 'Certified Social Worker and Certified Care Worker Act' defines the duties of a Certified Care Worker as 'providing care suited to physical and mental conditions' and 'providing guidance on caregiving to caregivers and others.'

Certified Care Worker is an 'exclusive title qualification' (Meisho Dokusen) where only license holders may use the title, and once registered, there is no 5-year periodic renewal requirement.

The Act stipulates the duty of sincerity, prohibition of acts damaging credibility, duty of confidentiality (continuing even after retirement, with penalties for violation), collaboration with health and medical services, and responsibility for self-improvement.

The 'Japan Association of Certified Care Workers Code of Ethics' sets forth 7 principles: user-oriented care, independence support, specialized service provision, privacy protection, comprehensive service and active collaboration, advocacy for user needs, and nurturing successors.

From a personal information protection standpoint, prior consent from the user themselves must in principle be obtained before sharing their information with family members or external agencies.

Key points


  • Certified Care Worker is an 'exclusive title qualification' with no renewal system (confidentiality duty continues after retirement)

  • 7 items of the Japan Association of Certified Care Workers Code of Ethics (user-centeredness, advocacy, training successors, etc.)
WordMeaning
Exclusive title qualification (Meisho Dokusen)
Duty of confidentiality and Prohibition of acts damaging credibility
Responsibility for professional self-improvement
Japan Association of Certified Care Workers Code of Ethics

User-Centeredness, Individuality, ICF, and Rehabilitation

The fundamental philosophy of caregiving lies in 'user-centeredness' and 'individualized care'—respecting each user's life history, values, and daily habits.

For foreign nationals and users with diverse cultural or religious backgrounds, care workers must understand dietary taboos and lifestyles so users can maintain their own way of living.

From the perspective of the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health), support focuses not only on limitations in body functions, but on strengths in 'Activities' and social 'Participation.'

Rehabilitation means the 'holistic restoration of human rights and dignity,' carried out through collaboration across 4 domains: medical, educational, vocational, and social rehabilitation.

Care workers are expected to tailor care schedules around the user's rhythm of life rather than forcing the user to conform to facility routines.

Key points


  • Practice individualized care respecting life history (Seikatsureki), culture, and diverse values

  • 4 domains of rehabilitation (medical, educational, vocational, social) and holistic restoration of human dignity
WordMeaning
Life history (Seikatsureki)
ICF (Activities and Participation)
Holistic restoration of human rights and dignity
4 domains of rehabilitation (medical, educational, vocational, social)

Universal Design, Welfare Symbols, Care Robots, and ICT

Unlike 'Barrier-Free,' which removes existing obstacles for older adults and persons with disabilities, 'Universal Design' advocated by Ronald Mace aims to create environments usable by all people from the very beginning.

The 7 Principles of Universal Design are: equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error (fail-safe), low physical effort, and size and space for approach and use.

Social support symbols include the butterfly-shaped 'Hearing Impairment Mark,' the ear-shaped 'Mimi Mark,' the four-leaf clover 'Physical Disability Mark,' and the 'Help Mark' indicating unseen needs for assistance.

Under the 'Act on Assistance Dogs for Physically Disabled Persons,' public facilities, public transport, and restaurants must not refuse entry to certified assistance dogs (guide dogs, service dogs, and hearing dogs).

In care settings, monitoring sensors, transfer-assist robots, intercoms, and care recording software (ICT) are introduced to improve care quality and reduce staff workload.

Key points


  • Distinction between Ronald Mace's 7 Principles of Universal Design and Barrier-Free

  • Understanding Hearing Impairment Mark (butterfly), Physical Disability Mark (four-leaf clover), Help Mark, and Assistance Dogs
WordMeaning
7 Principles of Universal Design (Ronald Mace)
Hearing Impairment Mark (butterfly) and Physical Disability Mark (four-leaf clover)
Help Mark and Mimi (Ear) Mark
Assistance Dogs (Guide dogs, Service dogs, Hearing dogs)

Scope of Home Visit Care and Characteristics of Care Facilities

Home visit care (Home Help) is divided into 'Physical Care' (bathing, excretion, meal assistance) and 'Daily Living Assistance' (cooking, laundry, cleaning, shopping).

'Daily Living Assistance' is strictly limited to what is directly necessary for the user's own daily life; cooking for cohabiting family members, entertaining guests, pet care, weeding, major seasonal cleaning, and New Year dishes are excluded.

Conversely, 'supervisory assistance for independent living'—such as cooking or doing laundry together with the user to maintain their abilities—is classified as 'Physical Care' rather than Daily Living Assistance.

Housing and facilities for older adults include Intensive Care Homes for the Elderly (Tokuyou — Care Level 3+), Long-Term Care Health Facilities (Rouken — home return rehabilitation), Long-Term Care Medical Facilities, and Dementia Group Homes.

Additionally, 'Elderly Housing with Supportive Services' (Sakouju) providing safety checks and life consultation, and low-cost 'Care Houses' support community living.

Key points


  • Excluded from Daily Living Assistance: housework for family, pet care, weeding, major cleaning, guest reception

  • Supervisory assistance performed together with the user to support independence is classified as 'Physical Care'
WordMeaning
Physical Care (Shintai Kaigo) and Daily Living Assistance (Seikatsu Enjo)
Supervisory assistance for independent living (Mimamoriteki Enjo)
Elderly Housing with Supportive Services (Sakouju)
Low-Cost Home for the Elderly (Care House)

Team Approach and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

To meet diverse user needs, a 'Team Approach' where health, medical, and welfare professionals collaborate toward shared goals is essential.

Team models include 'Multidisciplinary' (each profession works independently), 'Interdisciplinary' (professions coordinate and share information), and 'Transdisciplinary' (working collaboratively across traditional role boundaries).

Rehabilitation specialists include Physical Therapists (PT — basic movements like sitting up and walking), Occupational Therapists (OT — applied daily activities and crafts), and Speech-Language-Hearing Therapists (ST — speech and swallowing training).

Other collaborating professionals include Registered Dietitians (nutrition management), Dental Hygienists (oral hygiene guidance), Prosthetists and Orthotists (prosthetics and braces), and Care Managers (care plan creation).

In the community, volunteer 'Commissioned Welfare Volunteers' (Minsei-iin, who also serve as Child Welfare Volunteers) and 'Outreach' (proactively visiting people who have not reached support services) play vital roles.

Team Approach and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Key points


  • Roles of PT (basic movements), OT (applied activities), ST (speech/swallowing), Registered Dietitian, and Dental Hygienist

  • Differences among Multidisciplinary, Interdisciplinary, and Transdisciplinary models, and the role of Outreach
WordMeaning
Physical Therapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT), Speech Therapist (ST)
Registered Dietitian and Dental Hygienist
Commissioned Welfare Volunteer (Minsei-iin / Child Welfare Volunteer)
Outreach (proactive home visit support)

Risk Management, Elimination of Physical Restraint, and Medication Support

Based on Heinrich's Law (behind 1 major accident lie 29 minor accidents and 300 near-misses or Hiyari-Hatto), facilities collect and analyze Hiyari-Hatto reports to prevent accidents before they occur.

If an accident occurs, saving life, ensuring user safety, and contacting medical staff take top priority, followed by explaining to the family, completing an accident report, and formulating recurrence prevention measures.

In long-term care facilities, 'physical restraint' (11 designated actions that harm dignity and physical function, such as 4-point bed rails, wheelchair belts, mitten gloves, jumpsuits, and excessive psychotropic medication) is prohibited in principle.

Even in unavoidable emergencies to protect life or body, all 3 conditions—'Imminence' (Seppakusei), 'Non-substitutability' (Hidaitaisei), and 'Temporariness' (Ichijisei)—must be met, alongside organizational approval, record-keeping, and family consent.

In medication support, workers verify the 'right person, drug, dose, time, and method'; packaging multiple medications into single-dose packets (Ippouka) is the exclusive duty of a Pharmacist and must never be done by care workers.

Key points


  • Heinrich's Law (1:29:300) and accident prevention through Hiyari-Hatto analysis

  • 3 mandatory conditions for exceptional physical restraint: Imminence, Non-substitutability, and Temporariness
WordMeaning
Heinrich's Law (1:29:300) and Near-Miss (Hiyari-Hatto)
3 conditions for exceptional physical restraint (Imminence, Non-substitutability, Temporariness)
Accident report and Recurrence prevention measures
Single-dose packaging (Ippouka — Pharmacist's exclusive duty)

Infection Control, Disaster Preparedness (BCP), and Occupational Safety and Health

The foundation of facility infection control is 'Standard Precautions,' centered on thorough handwashing with liquid soap and running water. Because alcohol is less effective against Norovirus vomit, sodium hypochlorite is used for disinfection.

Route-specific measures are also crucial: airborne precautions (N95 mask) for tuberculosis, measles, and varicella; droplet precautions for influenza; and aerosol prevention in bath circulation systems for Legionella.

For disaster preparedness, formulating a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is mandatory for all care providers. Under the 5 Disaster Alert Levels, 'Level 3 = Evacuation of Older Adults, etc.' and 'Level 4 = Evacuation Instruction for All'; during flooding, 'vertical evacuation' to upper floors is also used.

Vulnerable individuals who struggle in general shelters are supported at 'Welfare Evacuation Shelters' and by Disaster Welfare Assistance Teams (DWAT). Workers must also recognize disaster hazard symbols.

Under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, employers must provide regular health checkups at least once a year for regular workers, once every 6 months for night-shift workers, an annual Stress Check at workplaces with 50 or more employees, and lower-back pain prevention measures.

Infection Control, Disaster Preparedness (BCP), and Occupational Safety and Health

Key points


  • Disinfect Norovirus with sodium hypochlorite; TB is airborne; Disaster Alert Level 3 is Evacuation of Older Adults

  • Health checkups: once a year normally, once every 6 months for night-shift workers; Stress Check mandatory annually for 50+ staff
WordMeaning
Sodium hypochlorite disinfection and Airborne precautions (N95 mask)
Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Welfare Assistance Team (DWAT)
Alert Level 3 (Evacuation of Older Adults) and Vertical evacuation
Industrial Safety and Health Act (6-month night-shift checkups and Stress Check)

Official references