The Japanese practice of " ubasute " , or granny homes , is on the rise as the number of elderly people in the country increases . For the first time , 26.7 % of Japan 's population of 127.11 million is aged over 65 . The situation has been dubbed a " demographic time bomb " by economists , as increasing numbers of older residents are being left outside hospitals and charity offices because family members can not afford their care . Granny dumping's revival signals another side effect of the demographic time bomb. In addition , the country 's younger workforce are having fewer children and are burning out from overwork .
The Japanese practice of " ubasute " , or granny homes , is on the rise as the number of elderly people in the country increases . For the first time , 26.7 % of Japan 's population of 127.11 million is aged over 65 . The situation has been dubbed a " demographic time bomb " by economists , as increasing numbers of older residents are being left outside hospitals and charity offices because family members can not afford their care . In addition , the country 's younger workforce are having fewer children and are burning out from overwork .