後期高齢者（Latter-stage elderly）

後期高齢者とは？

「後期高齢者」という言葉は、2008年に日本で導入された医療制度「後期高齢者医療制度」により広まった用語です。この制度では、75歳以上の高齢者を「後期高齢者」と定義し、それ以前の65歳から74歳の人々を「前期高齢者」と呼びます。この区分は医療保険制度の枠組みの中で明確に定義されたものであり、保険料の徴収や医療費の支払いなどにおいて異なる扱いがなされます。

この用語が流行語として注目を集めた背景には、高齢化社会に直面する日本の現状と、制度に対する国民の関心の高さがあります。特に導入当初は、「後期」という言葉に対する抵抗感や差別的と感じる人も少なくなく、名称に対する批判や議論が起こったことも、流行語として話題になった理由の一つです。

制度導入の背景と目的

「後期高齢者医療制度」が導入された背景には、急速に進む高齢化と、それに伴う医療費の増加があります。日本は世界でも類を見ないほどのスピードで高齢化が進行しており、医療や介護などの社会保障制度への負担が年々増加しています。このままでは現役世代の保険料負担が過大となり、制度の維持が困難になると予測されたことから、高齢者自身にも一定の負担を求める仕組みとしてこの制度が導入されました。

75歳以上の高齢者は、原則としてこの制度に加入し、年金などから保険料が天引きされます。また、所得に応じた自己負担額も設定されており、一定以上の所得がある高齢者は、窓口での支払額が高くなる仕組みになっています。

言葉が持つイメージと社会的反響

「後期高齢者」という表現は、単なる年齢区分を超えて、高齢者に対する社会の視線や価値観にも大きな影響を与えました。導入当時は、「人を年齢で区切ってラベルを貼るのはいかがなものか」といった批判や、「後期という言葉が死期を連想させて不快である」とする意見が多く見られました。そのため、「人生の後半を尊重する表現に変えるべきだ」といった提案もなされ、一部では「熟年世代」「人生の達人世代」などの代替案が示されましたが、制度的には「後期高齢者」という名称がそのまま使用され続けています。

とはいえ、この言葉が一般に浸透することで、高齢者の健康や医療、生活の質について社会全体が改めて関心を持つ契機となったことは事実です。特に超高齢社会を迎えた現在においては、いかに高齢者が自立し、元気に過ごせるかという「健康寿命」の延伸が重要な課題となっており、後期高齢者への支援やサービスのあり方が見直されています。

今後の課題と展望

今後、日本社会ではますます後期高齢者の人口が増えていくことが確実視されています。そのため、医療や介護だけでなく、住まいや交通、社会参加など、さまざまな分野で高齢者が安心して暮らせる環境づくりが求められています。また、「後期高齢者」という言葉が単に年齢的な区分を意味するだけでなく、その人が持つ経験や知恵、社会貢献への可能性を評価する言葉となるような意識の転換も必要です。

近年では、75歳を超えても仕事やボランティアに積極的に取り組む人々が増えており、「後期高齢者＝要支援対象」という旧来的なイメージは薄れつつあります。社会全体が高齢者を支えるだけでなく、高齢者自身も社会の一員として活躍できる場を確保することが、高齢化社会をポジティブに乗り越える鍵になると考えられています。

「後期高齢者」という言葉は、医療制度の一環として導入されたものではありますが、その背景には社会の構造変化や価値観の転換が色濃く反映されています。この言葉をきっかけに、高齢者の暮らしや健康、社会的役割について改めて考える必要があると感じる人も多いでしょう。制度の運用や言葉の選び方といった表面的な問題だけでなく、本質的には「すべての世代が尊重される社会とは何か」という問いに立ち返ることが求められています。

The term “Late-Stage Senior Citizens” is a term popularized by the “Late-Stage Senior Citizen Medical Care System,” a medical care system introduced in Japan in 2008. Under this system, the elderly aged 75 or older are defined as “Late-Stage Senior Citizens,” while those aged 65 to 74 are referred to as “Early-Stage Senior Citizens. These categories are clearly defined within the framework of the medical insurance system, and are treated differently in terms of premium collection and payment of medical expenses.

The reason why this term has gained attention as a buzzword is due to the current situation in Japan, which is facing an aging society, as well as the public’s high level of interest in the system. Particularly when the system was first introduced, many people were resistant to the term “late-stage” and felt that it was discriminatory, causing criticism and debate about the name, which is one of the reasons why the term has become a buzzword.

Background and Purpose of the Introduction of the System
The background to the introduction of the “Late-Stage Medical Care System for the Elderly” is the rapid aging of the population and the accompanying increase in medical expenses. Japan’s population is aging at a rate unparalleled in the world, and the burden on the social security system, including medical care and long-term care, is increasing year by year. It was predicted that if this trend continued, the burden of insurance premiums on the working-age population would become excessive, making it difficult to maintain the system, and this system was introduced as a mechanism to require the elderly themselves to bear a certain amount of the burden.

In principle, the elderly aged 75 or older are enrolled in this system, and premiums are deducted from their pensions and other sources. In addition, co-payments are set according to income, and the amount to be paid over the counter is higher for seniors with incomes above a certain level.

Image of the term and social repercussions
The term “late-stage elderly” has had a significant impact on society’s view of and values toward the elderly beyond mere age classification. At the time of its introduction, many criticized the use of the term, saying that it was unwise to label people by age, and that the term “late-stage” was offensive because it reminded people of the dying stage of life. Some suggested that the term should be changed to one that respects the latter half of life, and some proposed alternatives such as “mature generation” or “generation of life experts,” but systematically, the term “late-stage elderly” continues to be used as it is.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that the term has become widespread and has triggered a renewed interest in the health, medical care, and quality of life of the elderly in society as a whole. Especially in today’s hyper-aged society, extending “healthy life expectancy,” or the ability of the elderly to remain independent and healthy, has become an important issue, and support and services for the elderly in later life are being reexamined.

Future Challenges and Prospects
It is certain that the population of the elderly in later stages of life will continue to increase in Japanese society. Therefore, there is a need to create an environment in which the elderly can live with peace of mind, not only in terms of medical care and nursing care, but also in various other areas such as housing, transportation, and social participation. We also need to change our mindset so that the term “late-stage elderly” does not simply refer to an age category, but also to a term that recognizes a person’s experience, wisdom, and potential for social contribution.

In recent years, an increasing number of people over the age of 75 are actively engaged in work and volunteer activities, and the old image of “late-stage elderly = those in need of support” is fading. It is believed that the key to positively overcoming the aging society is not only for society as a whole to support the elderly, but also for the elderly themselves to secure a place where they can play an active role as a member of society.

Although the term “late-stage elderly” was introduced as part of the healthcare system, its background strongly reflects structural changes in society and a shift in values. Many people may feel that the term has triggered the need to rethink the lives, health, and social roles of the elderly. We need to return not only to superficial issues such as the operation of the system and the choice of words, but essentially to the question, “What is a society in which all generations are respected?

AIが描いた「後期高齢者」