Abstract: In 2015, the Japanese government upgraded its cognitive disorders policy to a national strategy, formulated a “comprehensive strategy for promoting cognitive disorders policy” (the New Orange Plan), and further improved the plan in 2017. According to the New Orange Plan, local autonomous bodies constructed a comprehensive community care system for the elderly with cognitive disorders, providing comprehensive medical, nursing, nursing prevention and life support services to enable them to spend their old age safely in their familiar communities. In order to protect the rights and interests of patients with cognitive disorders, the Japanese government established an adult guardian system, actively trained public guardians, and guaranteed the elderly with cognitive disorders to receive medical treatment and care at ease. Family members of cognitive disorders spontaneously organized “Cognitive Disorders Family Club”, and nongovernmental organizations set up various “Cognitive Disorders Cafes” with the support of the government to promote communication between cognitive patients and their families, relieve the burden of care, and form a social support network involving cognitive patients and their families, government, nongovernmental organizations and medical and nursing institutions.

Key words: cognitive disorders, the Orange Plan, comprehensive community care system, adult guardian system