Understanding the Caregiving Mark: Making Elder Care More Widely Understood
The caregiving mark originated in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and is used to let people nearby know that someone is receiving care. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has promoted its spread, and in some situations it can help older adults and care providers gain understanding and assistance. This article introduces the origin of this mark and points to note for its use.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: 介護マークの普及について · Original language: ja
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Facts from the sources
The caregiving mark was devised by Shizuoka Prefecture so that people around understand that a caregiver is currently providing care. View source
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare promotes the dissemination of the caregiving mark through local governments. View source
On December 13 in Heisei year 23, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare issued an administrative notice on the dissemination of the caregiving mark. View source
The detailed description of the caregiving mark can be found on the webpage of the Shizuoka Prefectural Government. View source
For older people and families
The caregiving mark is an approach proposed by Japan, aiming to let people around know that an older adult is receiving care.
If you take an older adult out, having a similar notice sign at hand may make it easier for passers-by or shop staff to understand the situation.
The mark is not mandatory; whether to use it is a decision for you and your family to make together.
When going out, verbally explaining your needs is sometimes more direct than a mark.
There is no unified caregiving mark in China; please do not treat Japan's practice as a domestic rule.
See what care and community teams can do
The caregiving mark was originally devised by Shizuoka Prefecture, and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare promoted its dissemination through local governments.
For the mark's specific appearance and usage situations, please consult primary materials such as the Shizuoka Prefectural Government.
If introducing a similar sign in an institution or community, you should design it yourself and clarify usage rules to avoid confusion with Japan's official mark.
You may refer to the idea of a 'care in progress' notice to help the public recognize caregiving situations, but local cultural acceptance needs to be assessed.
A sign cannot replace human communication; staff should proactively explain care needs.
It is recommended to collect opinions from older adults and their families in pilot areas before promoting it.
What needs local assessment
This article only introduces the background of Japan's caregiving mark. This mark is not internationally used, and there is currently no unified caregiving mark in China. The original text does not describe the mark's appearance, usage situations, or promotion results; for specific details, please consult the Shizuoka Prefecture page. Before designing, using, or promoting any sign, please consult your local community, civil affairs department, or relevant professional institutions. The content of this article does not constitute medical or legal advice. Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (see original link). This website compiled and translated this article based on the original facts; it is not a translation produced, approved, or published by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare; Japan's system is not equivalent to China's system.
Sources
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of JapanWas this article helpful?
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