Japan and Singapore Care Market News — 2026-06-15

Japan Care Market Trends

1. Work-Friendly Cafes for Caregivers Spread In Japan, cafes designed for employees caring for elderly parents are gaining attention. These spaces offer flexibility during emergencies and are praised for being "places to be open about family responsibilities" and helping individuals feel that they are making a difference.

2. Provisional Revision of Care Remuneration in June 2026 A revision to care remuneration has been provisionally implemented starting June 2026. Detailed information regarding the affected services, changes, and implementation timelines is available, which is expected to influence profitability and staffing for care providers.

3. Aging Society White Paper and Policy Updates The Cabinet Office of Japan released the 2024 White Paper on an Aging Society, outlining the status and future direction of elderly policies. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) issued the latest long-term care insurance updates (Vol. 1481, 1478) on March 13 to guide practitioners.

1 sources

yomiuri.co.jp

yomiuri.co.jp

Singapore Care Market Trends

1. Update on Singapore’s SDG 1 (No Poverty) Policy Singapore’s approach to SDG 1 is evolving beyond simple cash assistance into a comprehensive policy. It aims to improve the quality of life for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, through expanded care and social safety nets.

2. 2026 Outlook and Key Tasks for Senior Health Singapore is prioritizing strengthened elderly care, mental health support, and multi-faceted assistance based on 2025 milestones for its 2026 healthcare policy. Expanding long-term care and nursing infrastructure is a top priority.

3. Expansion of AIC (Agency for Integrated Care) Financial Programs The Agency for Integrated Care operates various financial and social programs such as the Home Caregiving Grant (HCG), the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF), and caregiver support networks. Support levels for 2026 are calculated based on 2025 annual values, and the agency is utilizing platforms like the Vertis Health Marketplace to improve accessibility.

4. Policy Discussions on Becoming a Super-Aged Society As Singapore approaches becoming a "super-aged society," it is officially raising the need for social discourse on nursing services and end-of-life care, including topics like assisted dying. The Chairman of the Sree Narayana Mission (Singapore) emphasized that while these discussions do not need to be rushed, starting a courageous conversation is essential.

1 sources

borgenproject.org

borgenproject.org

Policy and Market Implications

1. Expanding Support for Balancing Work and Care Both Japan and Singapore recognize the burden of informal care on the working population. Japan’s "care-friendly cafes" and Singapore’s caregiver networks show a shared trend toward evolving beyond mere economic support into social inclusion and psychological support.

2. Official Policy Implementation and Flexible Adjustments Japan’s provisional care remuneration revision in June 2026 and Singapore’s recalibration of support levels based on 2025 figures reflect both nations' commitment to responding rapidly to changing care demands. However, differences in timing and approach highlight the distinct administrative and fiscal systems of each country.

3. Shifting from System Strengthening to Fundamental Discourse Discussions in Singapore regarding issues like "assisted dying" indicate that there are ethical and social challenges in aging societies that cannot be solved by infrastructure expansion alone. Japan is also likely to include similar discussions in its future policy agenda.