INNOVATIVE CASES

MCS operates hundreds of group homes and nursing homes in Japan and China. To improve their residents' quality of life, MCS established an evidence-based system that focuses on a secondary cause of dementia, the deterioration of physical activity, and primarily consists of medically based adjustments to areas such as hydration, nutrition, exercise, oral function, posture, mobility, and medication.

Kaigo Café is a professional, multidisciplinary, offline and online network that has been carrying out grassroots activities throughout Japan since 2012 that allow participants from all aspects of the medical and nursing care industry—regardless of their credentials or status—to talk freely and empower one another to continuously improve elder care.

TANO is a non-contact gamification system that promotes movement and social engagement for health promotion and rehabilitation for older people. It is being used in care facilities in Japan and overseas. The initiative seeks to connect education and welfare, promote society-wide cooperation through industry-government-academia partnerships, and create an environment in which children and students can develop an awareness of social issues from an early stage.

In response to COVID, a multidisciplinary team of physicians, therapists, and dieticians created an evidence-based Home Exercise Program for Older People (HEPOP), which was published one month later as a booklet and online, offering a menu of exercises and activities that can be easily practiced at home. It was integrated into the Ministry of Health's Online Kayoinoba (gathering place) app.

The town of Mifune had been implementing a number of initiatives to promote preventive care and community building for its older residents, so when the percentage of people certified as eligible for long-term care began to rise again, they realized they needed objective data to identify the health problems of the community and strategically address the problems.

Based on research findings, a new training system was developed for local older people to become resident volunteers, or “frailty supporters.” A peer-to-peer model for “frailty check” activities was developed where older people gather together and carry out a comprehensive assessment to notice changes and modify their behavior together.

The Hedate Tea Room was established to coordinate and promote cooperation among various local organizations. This group, led from the bottom up and relying primarily on volunteers, has revitalized activities in the community, holding intergenerational events that pass on the stories and traditions of the region and give a sense of purpose to the older residents.

ITO EN, one of Japan's leading tea manufacturers, developed ready-to-serve Torori Ryokucha (thick green tea) that requires no added work to thicken and will not clump, so it is expected to save time and labor in nursing care settings or for home caregivers and make it possible for anyone to easily drink evenly thickened, delicious tea.

COLORS is a private company that provides a variety of caregiving services for older adults, people with disabilities, and others. Recognizing the issues facing caregivers in managing traditional wheelchairs, they began to develop a new design for a wheelchair that would be easier to use, regardless of the terrain, while still being light in weight and simple to operate.

Based on a unique concept of “gut-brain-muscle correlation,” this program offers online exercise and brain health broadcasts on a contract basis to nursing homes. By providing more than 10,000 combinations of evidence-based exercises designed to prevent frailty and maintain health, the salons reduce the need for nursing personnel to spend time and resources creating their own content to keep residents healthy and engaged.