# Japan elderly care and nursing workforce developments > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/japan-elderly-care-and-nursing-workforce-developments > Updated: 2026-09-13T20:28:00.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Japan is addressing challenges related to its aging population through advancements in end-of-life care and reforms to the nursing care workforce. Efforts to improve quality of life for the elderly include the expansion of Advance Care Planning (ACP) to facilitate discussions regarding medical preferences. In some regions, medical professionals are advocating for linguistic shifts to focus on life satisfaction, while new services are integrating personal grooming and skincare into hospice care to enhance psychological well-being and dignity. Simultaneously, the government is working to stabilize the caregiving sector. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is preparing a 2025 nursing care compensation revision aimed at improving wages and working conditions. This follows interim revisions that provided wage increases for staff involved in productivity improvements. However, significant wage gaps persist compared to other industries, prompting discussions on the need for more frequent revisions to combat inflation and reduce administrative burdens on facilities. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-13: Japan prepares 2025 nursing care compensation revision to improve wages Japan is planning its 2025 nursing care compensation revision, focusing on closing the wage gap with other industries and simplifying the subsidy system to address severe labor shortages. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-prepares-2025-nursing-care-compensation-revision-to-improve-wages ### 2026-09-09: Japan expands palliative care and Advance Care Planning initiatives Japan is expanding palliative care and Advance Care Planning (ACP) through public education, new medical philosophies focusing on life satisfaction, and specialized services like hospice beauty care. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/japan-expands-focus-on-advance-care-planning-and-specialized-elderly-care --- Cite as: Japan elderly care and nursing workforce developments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/japan-elderly-care-and-nursing-workforce-developments