Elderly Care Challenges and Needs of Japanese Older Adults Living Alone in a Context of Social Isolation

The empirical analysis presented in the preceding chapter revealed the multifaceted factors influencing Japan’s older adults’ living-alone phenomenon, including age, residential area, economic status, physical and mental health conditions, and frequency of social interaction. Together, these factors constitute the complex social mechanisms underlying solitary living. However, solitary living is not merely a residential status; it profoundly reflects the vulnerabilities and potential risks that older adults face amid broader structural changes in society.