Elderly Japanese Turning To Crime Amid Rising Healthcare Costs

More senior citizens are picking pockets and shoplifting in Japan to cope with cuts in government welfare spending and rising health-care costs in a fast-ageing society.

Criminal offences by people 65 or older doubled to 48,605 in the five years to 2008, the most since police began compiling national statistics in 1978, a Ministry of Justice report said.

Theft is the most common crime of senior citizens, many of whom face declining health, low incomes and a sense of isolation, the report said. Elderly crime may increase in parallel with poverty rates as Japan enters another recession and the budget deficit makes it harder for the government to provide a safety net for people on the fringes of society.

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Comments

[InedaName]

So prison is now a viable option for food, clothing, shelter, and medical care? Disgraceful.

[KarateKid]

I know some senior citizens who smuggle pot, then sell it to augment their fixed income. It's already going on, and the border guards at the Canadian checkpoints are getting wise, so they now turn to growing it hydroponically. It's income, enables them to afford to live and get their medication, and they don't pay taxes on it.

And to all you unsympathetic youngsters who don't understand why the elderly are scared, all I can say is before you know it, you'll be there, believe me. Lose a job at the wrong time and there goes your life savings, 401k, everything. So don't be so glib, it will be YOU someday. Once you cross 40, you enter the danger zone, and once you turn 50, you really are in jeopardy if you lose your job.

Good luck, and save your money now.

[Badbone]

I have to deal with rising gasoline costs, in order to get to my job. Should I be bailed out? Of course not. I simply allocate more resources to gas, and less on other things. I don't like to do it, but we do what we have to.

So why is it any different for the elderly and their medication? They had their entire lives to save money. And surely they didn't fail to realize they would become old some day. It was their responsibilty to deal with the upcoming tough times in their lives. Not mine.

The biggest problem with the "safety net" that everyone is proposing is that it leaves people like me proping up that net. Just like the banking bailout, the only people who didn't benefit are those that were responsible.

So now we are to have yet another system that takes from the productive? That's the change you all spoke of? No thanks. I feel for those worse off, but I will not let their lack of planning constitute a crisis on my behalf.

[Takae]

It's a situation that is far too complex for me to summarize easily. I'll try.
The biggest demographic group in Japan is elderly people and there is fewer younger people working and more foreigners working casual jobs (I do not wish to cause problems by saying this). Therefore the money doesn't go round as it used to be, which forces the government to make cut-backs in pensions and health care services for elderly people.
Also, traditionally, elderly parents live with one of their children until they pass away, but this tradition is now dying, which means elderly people have to fend for themselves alone. It's a scenario many did not anticipate. Middle age people are prepared now not to expect to live with their children, but earlier generations weren't prepared, hence the current situation.
Also, the combination of physical effects of atomic bombings during war, the war; natural disasters (earthquakes), and the mass migration overseas has affected the demographics overall, which eventually made elderly people today the largest demographic group in Japan. In addition to the government cutting back on pensions to spread it out evenly, there's the aftermath of Japan's recession and the current economic problems. It's a mess.
This of course does not justify these people's thievery, but I hope this provides, even if it's simplistic and shakily explained, a little insight.

[Takae]

I should clarify the part 'physical effects of atomic bombings'. Aside from the obvious (very high percentages of deaths from the bombings), many female survivors and their surviving female children were discouraged from having children as it was at the time believed the sickness would be passed down to new generations. Also, many (male and female) acquired atomic-bombing-related sicknesses - including cancer, lung disease and so on - that ended their lives early.

[KarateKid]

In the U.S. we will see more senior citizens working past the age of 65 as times get tougher. It is one avenue the aging generation can overcome economic hurdles. But in Japan, the mandatory retirement age is 60. It is also very expensive to live there, and as the tradition of the elderly living with younger family members breaks down, more elderly are on their own; there are many more Baby Boomers in Japan than younger generations. It is very difficult for the elderly in Japan to find jobs once they are forced to retire.

As you get older, you'll have more compassion than you do now. You're still young, and stupid.

[Zeje]

I sincerely hope that you lose your job -- and your health insurance. And i hope you get sick -- with cancer. You deserve it.

[ROBOT8]

NOW THAT'S AMERICAN!!!!!!

[aspertame2]

Aren't we STILL deflating the dollar in the desperate attempt to keep the nominal value of assets (like homes) UP?

Great idea. Now Granny can't afford groceries OR property taxes.

Japan is a comparatively peaceful and homogeneous country. I could envision a lot of retirees in the US acting out in more extreme, and sometimes more violent ways.

I believe that government will have to force investment in jobs in order to keep the whole social-contract-thing going. I can anticipate the right's backlash of that - starting with cries of "protectionism!" - but if we don't get into a "all pulling together" mindset but quick, in terms of jobs, education, healthcare, etc., it is going to get very ugly, very fast.

[jeffrey678]

Just as we pushed Americas mentally ill into U.S. prisons we will be pushing the elderly into prisons because of health care costs.

[Myshkin57]

Prisons or the streets... for both the mentally ill and the elderly.

[Chavez08]

"Selective Order" - it's the war-chant of the GOP/"Family Money" party.

It's a class WAR and it needs to be treated as such.

[RightWingMarine]

when we have socialized medicine here in the US it will be diffrerent somehow.

[Myshkin57]

We already have socialized medicine for the elderly. Get up to date.

[heal57]

We need a 'safety net' for all Americans. Big Business [particularly banking] has reduced many in America into 'economic enslavement'. I keep getting checks from a credit card company and I keep shredding them. I will not let them enslave me. I have paid my debts off, and am going to 'cash only' from now on. It's heartbreaking to see the elderly Japanese who used to be revered, in this state

[Chavez08]

Fear not, Marine! Grown-ups have taken over...though it will be a shock to the system since we haven't seen intelligent policy in a decade. It's obvious half-wit oil men and greedy bankers don't seem to understand reality too well.

But if you want to cling to 16th century classical economics that's 0-5 in it's standing and has been rejected by 80% of the country then that's up to you.

"YES WE CAN!"

[brooklyncitizen]

This is a case in point why there needs to be a safety net to provide for the welfare of people when economic times are difficult. People will and DO turn to crime. Desperation is a real motivator and in the end the entire society pays a price.

[americaforme]

This is not a joke! Small wonder, these folks are surly desperate. Much like our youth that feel so overwhelmed, and depressed, not knowing how to care for themselves in this golden society. Are prisons are full and overflowing with disenfranchised. When will we as loving Americans step up to the plate and free these people.

[Chavez08]

When laws are no longer written almost exclusively by bankers.

[iPolitics]

Most of the money that drug companies spend is on advertising not research and development.

Cut out the advertising and let doctors reccomend drugs...dropping the prices.

[NeoStar9]

Exactly. Look at all the money the auto industry spends on advertising. Same for the oil companies just to better their image. The same problem exist in those industries.

[Myshkin57]

But making better products is soooo hard. Can't we just make them SEEM like they're better? That's so much easier.

[Egalitare]

Right.

I didn't take Organic Chemistry, so how would I have a CLUE of how to properly discern the merits of drug claims?

[starboymikey]

A glimpse into America's near future?

[realityczech4u]

No. The Japanese are a non-violent society. Much different here in America. Here there are many who believe that the world owes them a living (aka "social justice") and when they reach the point where they are not getting it, they will become violent (blowing up buildings and the like). Tigers do not change their stripes.

[Wiredwilly]

Sounds familiar. Soon America too will turn it's Senior Citizens into criminals to further fatten the belly of the Corporate beast.

[Chavez08]

End Fascism NOW.