Mobility Support Using Electric Carts to Improve the Health and Wellbeing of the Older People in the Community
Mobility is crucial for older adults to live healthy, active, and rewarding lives. Research institutes at Chiba University and Nihon Fukushi University worked with Yamaha Motor Co. and several local governments to address this problem by introducing electric carts that could be used on public roads in the community. They introduced an operational model that is easy for older people to use and easy for governments to implement.
0084 Community Health Project—Using a Local Company’s Know-How to Promote a Healthier Community
Ohashi Transport Co., a company with headquarters in Seto, had been carrying out in-house health management programs to maintain the mental and physical wellbeing of its employees as a means to improve each person’s vitality and productivity. They recognized that their experience could contribute to the promotion of health for their community, and so began working with the local government to implement a multi-pronged program focused on health education, exercise promotion, and social engagement.
Connecting Education and Welfare through TANO
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.
Using Data-Based Strategies to Extend Healthy Life Expectancy
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.
Citizen-Based Frailty Prevention Program
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.
Older People Take the Lead! Passing on the Vitality of the Region
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.
IM-OK Project
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 offers entertainment, learning, and health-related functions as well.
Micro-Jobs Program for Older People
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. More importantly, they feel a sense of purpose and engagement with their community.
CARE-Net—A Smart Integrated Care Approach to Reach Older People in a Depopulated Area
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 navigate the system and advocate on their behalf.
Home Nursing to Regenerate the Town
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 literacy and digital literacy among older residents and promote healthier living.