What is a care plan?
When you look into care, you may come across the term "care plan".
But you may be wondering:
- What is written in it?
- Who makes it?
Many people have these questions.
A care plan is like a "care schedule" that sets out how care services will be used.
It decides which services to use and how often, and plans things so that the person can live with peace of mind.
What is written in a care plan?
A care plan includes things such as:
- Which care services will be used
- The days and number of times they are used
- The life the person wants to aim for
- The wishes of the person and the family
- The providers that deliver the services
The contents differ for each person, according to their physical condition and way of life.
Who makes it?
The care plan is made by the person's care manager, in consultation with the person and the family.
It is not "something the care professionals decide on their own".
The care manager listens to the wishes of the person and the family and thinks it through together with them, valuing "what kind of life the person wants to live".
Does it cost anything to make a care plan?
When you ask a care manager through long-term care insurance, the person and the family do not pay for making the care plan.
You can ask for advice with peace of mind.
Can a care plan be changed?
Yes, it can.
For example, when:
- The person's health has changed
- The person has come to need more care
- The services the person wants to use have changed
- The family's situation has changed
the care plan is reviewed in consultation with the care manager.
It is not finished once it is made. It is changed to fit the person's life.
Care services you can use once a care plan is made
Once a care plan is made, the person can use long-term care insurance services such as:
- Home-visit care
- Home-visit nursing
- Day service
- Day care
- Short-term stay
- Welfare equipment rental
and more.
Which services suit the person depends on their physical condition and way of life.
How is a care plan made?
Generally, the steps are as follows.
- Receive long-term care certification
- Consult a care manager
- The care manager listens to the wishes of the person and the family
- The care plan is made
- Care services begin
If anything is unclear, you can go ahead while asking the care manager, so you can feel reassured.
Ask about clothing too
While the care plan is being made, many people find that:
- They will start going to day service
- They will start using home-visit care
This is very common.
Preparing clothing that is easy to change and easy to help with at that time makes daily life more reassuring for both the person and the carer.
If you are unsure about clothing, ask Setagaya Kaigo
At Setagaya Kaigo, we listen to things such as:
- The person's physical condition
- The care services they will use
- How easy it is to change
- How easy it is to help with
and suggest care clothing that suits the person.
Please feel free to ask us.
Clothing we recommend for day service and home-visit care
Summary
A care plan is like a "care schedule" that sets out how care services will be used.
The person's care manager makes it in consultation with the person and the family, and reviews it as health and life change.
When you think "I want to use care services, but I don't know where to start", don't struggle alone. First, try asking a care manager or the community general support center.
The care manager thinks through the care plan with you so that the person can keep living in their own way, and supports you so that you can use care services with peace of mind.
*This article is based on the Japanese system as of July 2026. The system may be revised, so please check the details with your local municipality or the person's care manager.
References and sources: Care Service Information Publication System, "In-home care support" and "Steps to using services" (in Japanese)
