「消費しょうひ者しゃ白書はくしょ」認知にんち症しょう高齢こうれい者しゃのトラブル相談そうだん増ぞう“見守みまもりが必要ひつよう”

This years Consumer White Paper was approved by the Cabinet on the 13th. It points out that there has been an increase in consultations about troubles such as elderly people with dementia being forced into unnecessary contracts through door-to-door sales or telephone solicitations, and emphasizes the need for those around them to keep a watchful eye.

According to the Consumer White Paper, the number of consultations received by consumer affairs centers nationwide over the past year was about 900,000, which is more than 14,000 fewer than the previous year.

Of these, there were 9,618 consultations involving elderly people who were unable to make adequate decisions due to dementia or similar conditions, the highest number in the past ten years.

The consultations include cases such as I was made to sign a contract for waterproofing work on the roof, but I want to cancel it, and many involve people being persuaded by businesses into unnecessary contracts or purchases.

Door-to-door sales and telephone solicitations account for just over 46%, and it is said that most of the consultations come from people other than the person themselves, such as relatives.

The Consumer Affairs Agency points out that elderly people with dementia tend to have a low awareness of being involved in trouble, making it difficult for problems to become apparent, and therefore supervision by those around them is necessary.

In addition, the Consumer Affairs White Paper states that there were more than 86,000 consultations related to social media, the highest number ever, and that troubles related to side jobs and investment solicitations impersonating celebrities are on the rise.

Ito, the Minister for Consumer Affairs, said, We recognize this as an important issue and would like to further promote monitoring activities in the future, in response to the number of consultations involving elderly people who cannot make adequate decisions due to dementia and other reasons reaching the highest level in the past 10 years.

He said, If consumers feel even a little uneasy, including cases where elderly people around them may have gotten into trouble, I would like them to consult the Consumer Hotline 188.

33 consultations regarding door-to-door sales

According to the Consumer White Paper, the most common purchase method in consumer consultations was 5%, and for elderly people with dementia, 33% of the consultations were related to door-to-door sales.

Most common at 5%, 12

2 out of all elderly people aged 65 and over, which was 8%.

It increased sixfold.

Also, regarding consultations about telephone solicitation sales, 12 of them involved elderly people with dementia, etc.

8% and 1 of the total elderly population

It tended to be seven times higher.

At a home-visit nursing care office in Naniwa Ward, Osaka, which is also used by elderly people with dementia, staff received consultations over the past year from four dementia patients. They said things like, A salesperson who visits my home keeps recommending that I buy a futon—should I buy it? or Im being solicited for asset management.

Of these cases, it is reported that in the home of an 83-year-old man with dementia who uses home-visit nursing care four times a week, a brand-new air conditioner was left unopened in the room, even though a functioning air conditioner was already installed.

When the nurse became suspicious and asked the man, he said, An electrician came to my house and recommended it, so I ended up buying it.

Furthermore, next to the air conditioner, there was also a gas heater still in its box, which appeared to have been purchased recently.

The man said in an interview, They asked me if I wanted to buy it, and their way of saying it was so skillful that I ended up buying it.

In addition, it was reported that real estate agents often visited the mans home asking him to sell his land, so at the facility, they consulted a lawyer and helped him use the adult guardianship system to manage his assets.

At this facility, in order to prevent troubles involving users with dementia, they are working together with other facilities so that nurses and helpers can visit homes as much as possible, making it clear to the neighborhood that people are coming and going from the house.

Kazufumi Yoshida, a nurse at Bijina Namba Home-Visit Nursing Station, says, I try to listen first and not deny what the person has done, even if they have bought something, so as not to hurt their self-esteem.

We want to share information among staff and continue to keep watch in order to prevent any trouble, they said.

Expert: “The number of consultations is just the tip of the iceberg.” Professor Jin Narimoto of Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, who is knowledgeable about consumer issues involving elderly people with dementia, points out, “As cognitive function declines, people tend to go out shopping less often, and there are also those who live in isolation from society. So, when someone visits their home, they may feel happy just to have a visitor, and want to do something for them, which could lead to purchases or contracts.”

Professor Narimoto says, People with dementia may not realize they are in trouble, may feel too embarrassed to consult anyone, or may not know where to seek help.

They often forget about the trouble itself, which makes it difficult for them to seek advice.

Therefore, I believe that the number of consultations that have come to light is just the tip of the iceberg. Furthermore, with the increasing elderly population, there is a certain proportion of people in the community who have dementia or declining cognitive function.

He said, For such people, it is necessary to strengthen the monitoring network while respecting their independence.