Non-Insured Long-Term Care Services: 77% Unused, Yet 61% See Future Need (Usage Status Survey)

Shogakukan Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which operates the 'Care Marketing Research Institute by Care Post Seven' (https://kaigo-postseven.com/marketing-research), conducted a survey on 'Non-Insured Long-Term Care Services' targeting registered members of 'Kaigo no Nakama,' the membership organization of 'Care Post Seven' (https://kaigo-postseven.com/), to clarify their usage status and needs.

Non-insured long-term care services are support services that anyone can use to supplement needs that are difficult to meet solely through the public long-term care insurance system, amidst advancing aging and caregiver shortages.

However, aspects such as actual usage, cost perception, and desired service content are not yet fully clear.

This article clarifies the user base of non-insured long-term care services and how the non-user segment perceives future utilization, based on the survey results.

◆ Survey Overview

Survey Sponsor: Care Marketing Research Institute by Care Post Seven

Survey Method: Internet-based questionnaire survey

Survey Target: Registered members of 'Kaigo no Nakama,' the membership organization of 'Care Post Seven'

Survey Region: Nationwide (Japan)

Survey Period: Friday, December 26, 2025 – Sunday, January 18, 2026

Number of Valid Responses: 4,893

【Survey Summary】

High latent demand driven by 'reduction of caregiving burden' and 'work-life balance,' but a gap exists with actual usage.

High value perceived for services related to 'maintaining daily life' and 'mobility support.'

Most frequent usage is twice a week or more; costs are concentrated below 30,000 yen per month.

Barriers to usage are 'anxiety about price' and 'lack of information.'

Detailed Survey Results

◆ High latent demand driven by 'reduction of caregiving burden' and 'work-life balance,' but a gap exists with actual usage

Regarding experience with non-insured long-term care services, 77% responded 'have never used,' indicating a majority of non-users.

On the other hand, among non-users, 61% in total responded 'strongly agree' or 'agree' when asked about the future necessity of non-insured long-term care services, indicating that many are considering future use.

'High latent demand exists, but there is a gap with actual usage.'

The primary reason for using non-insured long-term care services was concentrated on 'reducing physical and mental burden.' Furthermore, comments such as 'burden is too great for family alone' and 'difficult to balance with work' were frequently seen as reasons for perceiving future necessity, suggesting that non-insured long-term care services are expected as a means to 'distribute caregiving burden' and 'support work-life balance.'

◆ High value perceived for services related to 'maintaining daily life' and 'mobility support.'

Among services that users responded as 'most helpful,' 'rental of welfare equipment' accounted for the largest proportion at 39%, followed by 'care and welfare taxi' (14%), 'home modifications' (9%), and 'in-home bathing support' (5%).

'High value perceived for services related to maintaining daily life and mobility support.'

Satisfaction levels for each service were 'rental of welfare equipment' (62%), 'care and welfare taxi' (61%), 'home modifications' (61%), and 'in-home bathing support' (74%). Most services exceeded 60% satisfaction, and the overall satisfaction with non-insured long-term care services was at a high level of 63%.

◆ Most frequent usage is twice a week or more; costs are concentrated below 30,000 yen per month

Regarding usage frequency, 'twice a week or more' was the most common at 27%, followed by 'irregular' (20%) and 'once a week' (18%). Those using services once a week or more totaled 45%, revealing that non-insured long-term care services are not just used only when needed but are also used regularly by a certain number of people.

'Usage frequency is regular use of twice a week or more, with costs concentrated below 30,000 yen per month.'

For monthly costs, '10,000 to less than 30,000 yen' and '5,000 to less than 10,000 yen' were tied for the most common at 21% each, suggesting that even services involving a certain cost burden are utilized as needed.

◆ Barriers to usage are 'anxiety about price' and 'lack of information.'

The reasons for not having used non-insured long-term care services were:

1st place: No specific plans (31%)

2nd place: Unsure about the cost (30%)

3rd place: Prioritizing other expenses (16%)

4th place: Unsure about available services (13%)

With 'unsure about the cost' (30%) and 'unsure about available services' (13%) ranking high, it is evident that the opacity of pricing and information acts as a barrier to usage.

◆ Through These Survey Results

'This survey has revealed that non-insured long-term care services have high utility in essential areas of caregiving such as maintaining daily life and mobility support, and that there is a need for regular usage,' stated Takuya Ohashi, Editor-in-Chief of Care Post Seven and Care Marketing Research Institute.

'On the other hand, while latent needs exist to a certain extent, a lack of understanding regarding prices and service details also poses a barrier to usage. Moving forward, it will be important to develop services and provide information that makes it easier for users to understand cost perceptions and specific support details, focusing on areas with high demand.'

*The data presented here is a partial excerpt of the survey. For data not included or detailed comments from open-ended questions, please contact us at the following.

Please state your company and department name when inquiring.

Care Marketing Research Institute

https://kaigo-postseven.com/contact

Contact Person: Shogakukan Media Business Bureau

【Request Regarding Citation of Sources】

The survey data introduced in this article can be freely quoted. When doing so, please cite the source as follows:

Source: [Survey Report] Usage Status of Non-Insured Long-Term Care Services | Analysis of Usage Needs and Price Tolerance (Care Marketing Research Institute by Care Post Seven)

https://kaigo-postseven.com/224710

'Care Marketing Research Institute by Care Post Seven' provides services that can be utilized for user trend analysis, marketing, brand awareness improvement, and product development, based on real data from individuals currently providing care or highly interested in caregiving.

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