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英検1級 二次 予想トピック 40 ・ 🏘️ 社会・地域・高齢化 ・ To what extent

To what extent should families, rather than the state, be responsible for caring for elderly people?

高齢者の介護は、国ではなく家族がどの程度担うべきか。

このトピックを選ぶべき人

介護の話題を、自分の家族の例と制度の両面から話せる人向け。

骨組み理由3つ（どちらの立場でも話せる）

賛成（Yes）で話すなら

I believe families should take on a large part of the responsibility, with support from the state.

  1. emotional bondOlder people often feel happier and safer when they are cared for by people they know and trust. A son or daughter can notice small changes in a parent's mood that a busy care worker might miss.
  2. financial limitsThe state cannot afford to cover all care costs as the population ages. Japan's long-term care system is already under pressure, and taxes would have to rise sharply if the state took on everything.
  3. family valuesCaring for our parents is an important way of returning the love and support we received as children. Many cultures, including Japan's, have long valued this kind of family responsibility.

反対（No）で話すなら

I believe families should be responsible only to a limited extent, and the state should take the main role.

  1. care burdenFamily caregivers often face serious physical and mental stress. In Japan, many people quit their jobs to care for their parents, which harms both their careers and the economy.
  2. professional skillsCaring for people with dementia or serious illness requires professional skills. Trained care workers can provide safer and more appropriate care than untrained family members.
  3. changing familiesFamilies are smaller than in the past, and many older people have no children living nearby. A person who lives alone in the countryside, for example, may have nobody to depend on except public services.

想定質疑面接委員はこう突っ込んでくる

QIsn't it natural for children to look after their parents?

I understand that view, and I think children should certainly stay involved. However, there is a big difference between visiting and supporting parents and providing full-time nursing care. Professional care allows families to focus on emotional support, which is something only they can give.

Q：子どもが親の面倒を見るのは自然なことでは？
A：その考えは分かりますし、子どもが関わり続けるべきなのは確かです。しかし、親を訪ねて支えることと、つきっきりの介護をすることには大きな違いがあります。専門家に介護を任せれば、家族は家族にしかできない心の支えに集中できます。

QHow can the government pay for more elderly care?

That's a serious challenge. The government may need to raise insurance contributions slightly and use technology, such as care robots and sensors, to reduce costs. Keeping more people in work, instead of having them quit to care for their parents, would also help the economy.

Q：政府はどうやって介護の費用をまかなうのですか。
A：大きな課題です。保険料を少し上げたり、介護ロボットやセンサーなどの技術で費用を抑えたりする必要があるでしょう。親の介護のために仕事を辞める人を減らし、働き続けてもらうことも経済の助けになります。

QWhat do you think about bringing in more foreign care workers?

I think it's necessary to some extent, given the shortage of care workers. However, they need proper language training and fair pay. Otherwise, they may leave quickly, and the quality of care could suffer.

Q：外国人の介護職員をもっと受け入れることについてどう思いますか。
A：介護職員の不足を考えると、ある程度は必要だと思います。ただし、きちんとした語学研修と公正な賃金が必要です。そうでなければすぐに辞めてしまい、介護の質が下がるおそれがあります。

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