INNOVATIVE CASES

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

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

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

To combat social isolation, the Lions Befrienders Service Association (LBSA) created an easy-to-use elderly-friendly tablet device that lets users monitor and report their daily wellbeing. Pushing an “I am OK”button lets people know they are alright, and any missed check-ins alert family or LBSA volunteers to confirm the person’s safety. The tablet

The Micro-Jobs Program lets healthy, active seniors assist frailer peers in their neighborhood through tasks such as meal delivery, medication reminders, or accompanying people to doctor’s appointments. The tasks are “bite-size,” so there is a low barrier to entry. Participants are trained and receive a modest allowance in return for the tasks.

CARE-Net is a digital platform that assists underserved rural communities by connecting health, welfare, long-term care, and medical care. By allowing inter-agency data-sharing and communication, experts can quickly identify a person’s needs and consult with others to resolve them. Village care managers (trained citizen health leaders) in each village help their neighbors

Nurse & Craft addresses aging, rural communities by establishing a home-visit nursing station to provide medical treatment and care at home, taking advantage of telemedicine to access medical doctors on the mainland. They also offer a combination of health monitoring technologies, regular home visits by nurses, and health classes to improve medical

Go Bike trains young volunteers to become community responders—“Go Bikers”—in times of emergencies and disasters. They use bicycles equipped with first-aid kits, medicine, blood pressure apparatus, random blood sugar checking kits, and disaster response equipment that they used to effectively respond to help those in their communities. Recognizing the value of these

YoungHappy is a social enterprise providing in-person and digital solutions to promote social interaction, physical activity, and mental stimulation for urban elders. They create “Happy Spaces,” community hubs located in shopping malls, let members join their peers for art workshops, health talks, exercise classes, etc., while their “YoungHappy Plus” platform (via app

MyAgeing has created five comprehensive, evidence-based educational modules to improve digital literacy skills among older people, helping them access essential services and stay connected to their communities. Topics include using mobile devices for navigation, messaging, and shopping, and they focus particularly on accessing safe content and avoiding scams.