“Identity Guarantee” Support Shizuoka City to introduce the nation’s first business certification system

While demand for private support businesses that provide "identity guarantee" for elderly people with no relatives when they are hospitalized is increasing, and troubles over contracts are becoming a problem, Shizuoka City has launched the first business certification system in the country. I decided to introduce it.

Private-sector "elderly support businesses such as personal guarantees" serve as guarantors on behalf of family members, provide support in daily life, and provide funeral services after death.Demand is increasing due to the increase in the number of elderly people living alone. There is no competent government agency or law, and there have been reports of problems with contracts.

Under these circumstances, Shizuoka City decided to introduce a certification system for business operators, believing that the government needs to be involved in ensuring the quality of businesses. We gathered.

Shizuoka City has established new standards such as contract rules, refund procedures upon cancellation, and posthumous donations, and only those who meet the conditions will be certified as an "Excellent Business Operator" for three years.

After that, there will be a renewal system, and the city will examine the service content, fee structure, financial status, etc. of the business that applied, and if it is certified, it will be announced on the website etc.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, this is the first time in the country that a local government has established a certification system for personal guarantee providers.

One of the participating business operators said, ``As the number of single people increases, there is a growing need for services to be taken care of during life and after death, so I think it is important to have government-related certification.''

Makoto Sakai, deputy director of the Shizuoka City Regional Comprehensive Care and Everyone's Participation Promotion Headquarters, said, ``We had a hard time creating unprecedented standards, but we would like to work with businesses to develop a system so that everyone can use it with peace of mind.'' We were talking.