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ELDERLY CARE SERVICES IN STUDY TOUR REPORT organised for the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

7-10 May 2018 page 02 CONTENTS

CONTEXT - Participants...... 03 - Overview of visited facilities...... 04 - Introduction to Elderly Care in Japan...... 05

VISITS - Japan Juvenile Education College...... 06 - Social welfare foundation Yokufukai Tokyo dementia care research and training centre ...... 07 - Panasonic Centre - Wonder Life-BOX...... 08 - Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika Campus - Kobayashi Laboratory.....09 - Private assisted living: PanaHome...... 10 page 03 PARTICIPANTS

Name Position Organisation

Dr. Lillian WONG Principal Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education

Mrs. Lorraine, Siu-Fan Head of Department Hong Kong Institute of PAK TANG Vocational Education

Ms. Alice, Nga-lai Senior Lecturer Hong Kong Institute of KWONG Vocational Education

Ms. Gloria, Yin-shan Lecturer Hong Kong Institute of CHENG Vocational Education page 04 OVERVIEW OF VISITED FACILITIES

Visit 1 Japan Juvenile Education College

Visit 2 Social welfare foundation Yokufukai Tokyo dementia care research and training centre

Visit 3 Panasonic Centre Wonder Life-BOX

Visit 4 Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika Campus Kobayashi Laboratory

Visit 5 Private assisted living: PanaHome page 05 INTRODUCTION TO ELDERLY CARE IN JAPAN

Japan has both the highest life expectancy in the world and relatively low health care costs (7.9% of its gross national product spent on health care compared with 16% in the United States and 9.4% in Australia). Under the universal Long-Term Care Insurance System, people aged over sixty-five years are entitled to receive long-term care if determined to have care needs. These two factors combined with Japan’s dra- matically falling birth rate mean Japan faces major challenges stemming from simultaneous population aging and population decline. Japan precedes other countries in experiencing a “super-aging” society not only in rural but also in urban communities.

Japan’s experience provides les@sons from which other countries can learn. First, recognizing population aging as a critical societal issue, Japan has implemented a number of policies. For example, to contain skyrocketing long-term care costs, Japan incorporated disability prevention services into long-term care benefits in 2005 (Tsutsui & Muramatsu, 2007). Japan is also exploring effective ways to maintain older adults’ functional abilities and promote independent living. Such social experiments could inform other countries, especially the Asian countries that are undergoing even faster population aging than Japan (e.g., South Korea).

Second, Japan’s new community-building efforts present examples for other countries seeking to strength- en social relationships. A national consensus exists that old social relationships that tend to suppress in- dividualism would not work anymore.

Third, high labour force participation among older Japanese adults provide insights for aging societies. Anticipating a society where one of three people is aged 65+ years, Japan is implementing policies to encourage older adults to engage in productive activities.

Japan’s aging population impacts not only the health and welfare sectors, but the country’s economy, industry and culture too. While the ratio of dependent members of the population rises, new employment opportunities in the field of elder care increase, along with the possibility of using the elderly as social resources.

Already Japan has adopted a variety of innovative practices to meet these challenges. New types of care facilities, such as those pioneered by the Japan Care Welfare Group are emerging, taking the lead in filling the gaps left by traditional support programs. Not only will our visits to these facilities showcase a successful commercial model in the field of elder care, but will give us an overview of the current Japanese system of elder care.

Utilizing Japan’s advances in the field of robotics, Japanese researchers are now looking at ways robots can support the aging population, from robot suits that help rehabilitation to fully functional humanoid robots. Robotics is important enough that Japan’s powerful Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry bank- rolls several experimental programs.

Throughout the study component of the tour we will visit facilities where robots are incorporated into the care and rehabilitation of elderly users. We will hear from the developers of new robot technologies, the experiences of care staff employed in commercial day care and overnight-stay facilities and public hospi- tals, and visit labs on the cutting edge of robotic technology development. The variety of facilities visited will demonstrate not only the many possible applications of robot technology, but the wide range of elder care developed in Japan. page 06

VISITS

Japan Juvenile Education College Keishin Gakuen Educational Group

The Japan Juvenile Education College (General Children’s Studies, Childhood Education) is a part of Keishin-Gakuen Educational Group which has a total enrolment of 2,700 students.

Mr. Eiichi Kobayashi, Keishin business support group chief explained to the delegates the structure of Japanese higher educational system, the present state of vocational schools (over 3,200 nationwide at present, most of them pri- vate self-founded establishments) and the unique features in Keishin Gakuen curriculum.

Keishin Educational Foundation is a pioneer that continues to lead the country in its education of nationally licensed professionals includ- ing care workers, social workers, mental health therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language hearing therapists, acupuncturists, childcare workers, and kinder-garden teachers. Since its foundation in 1973, Keishin has sent about 30,000 individuals equipped with high skills in welfare, medical care, health and childcare areas. Highest degrees are obtained at vocational school in Japan compared to Hong Kong.

Keishin group includes the following education institutions: Japan Welfare Education college (Social Care, Care and Welfare Studies, Social Welfare (Sign language interpreting Course, Music Therapy Course), Speech and Language Therapy), Japan Rehabilitation College (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy), Japanese Acupuncture & Moxibustion Therapy college (Acupuncture and Moxibustion) and Clinical Wel- fare College (Physical Therapy, Judo Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy). Educational programs on elderly care are available in these Japanese educational establishments.

In addition, Keishin group works together with the Japanese government through accepting various re- search projects from Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. For example, Keishin Group is currently considering life-long learning within the framework of the work-life balance strategies introduces by Prime minister Abe. It also works on the “Expanding Japanese elderly care education over- seas” project designed by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

Keishin group also creates ties with major corporations for supporting students who unable to pay tuition fees (Keishi Gakuen owns over 30 high profile corporate accounts for securing carrier opportunities for the new graduates).

Mr. Kobayashi’s presentation also covered the following points:

• the national educational guidance or “road map” aimed for students in education from JHS to college • the funding difference in public and private educational sectors • the 5 qualification levels for social welfare workers established by Kyushu University • the strategies for appealing care giving jobs to young people • the remuneration for elderly care providers from entry level to higher management page 07

Social welfare foundation Yokufukai Tokyo dementia care research and training centre

General Manager Mr. Asai and Prof. Sato made a presentation about history and current state of Yokufukai which is one of the oldest social welfare facilities in Japan. It includes a hospital, 3 nursing homes, group homes and a health check-up facility with a focus on brain examination.

Yokufukai holds an important role in the local community of ward, hosting community events and providing a shelter for the resident in event of natural disaster.

In terms of elderly care, it provides consulting services in person and over the phone for families of patients diagnosed with advanced stage of dementia, care through visiting home helper services to bed-ridden patients with dementia

It has also implemented courses and training programs for dementia care administrators, providing a set- ting for the interchange between people active in dementia care field.

In 2012, the Japanese government created the “New Orange Plan” designed by for patients suffering from dementia. Yokufukai centre is one of the three national facilities (located in Suginami ward of Tokyo, Obu city in Aichi prefecture and city in Miyagi prefecture) which forms a base for training and research in dementia care in Japan.

The delegates also visited a special floor for the patients with dementia, to discover the patient-centred layout, daily routine and integrated rehabilitation programs

Mr. Asai and Prof. Sato’s presentation also covered the following subjects:

• Practices of identifying stages of dementia in Japan • Training programs available in Japan for care givers of various ranks page 08

Panasonic Centre - Wonder Life-BOX

The delegates had a full guided tour by Panasonic representative Mr. Hiroshi Sakakibara

Wonder Life-Box is a showcase offering an advance glimpse of a better life in the years from 2020 through 2030-”A Better Life, A Better World”- and conceived by Panasonic. Based on information from consumer electronics and household equipment, and making use of optimum services from town and society suited to each individual and their families, you can create your lifestyle more comfortable in your own way.

A core feature of the exhibition is Partner, a virtual companion for a futuristic home. Partner supports daily life by assisting people via two-way communication. As a go-between to connect people and things in various aspects, Partner will ensure security, protecting from anxieties such as disasters, crimes and health conditions.

A few examples of the services featured in the residential zone:

Hydrogen Infrastructure: A household energy system using environmentally-friendly, highly-efficient hydro- gen enables people to secure energy at home, which provides a sense of security in any situation.

My Professional Kitchen: Through dialogue with Partner, the range of cooking can be expanded from sim- ple recipes using the ingredients found in the refrigerator to professional-level creative dishes.

My Favorite Living: The locations and movements of family members around the home are detected au- tomatically so that screen images may be enjoyed in various ways, such as on a tablet in hand, on a table, and on a wall surface.

Sleeping Quality Check & Comfortable Sleep Services: Every day, Partner manages the condition of your body during sleep based on data from various sensors.

Smart Healthcare Navigation: Just by standing in front of the mirror, Partner will not only check the condition of your body but also understand how you feel. page 09

Tokyo University of Science, Katsushika Campus Kobayashi Laboratory

The Tokyo University of Science is the number one private university in Japan and Japan’s only private university to produce a Nobel prize winner. Founded in 1881, the university is today on the cutting edge of research developments in a number of fields.

Koba lab is at the centre of the University of Science’s research into assist technologies and robot commu- nication. In 2009, Koba labs made International headlines when Saya, a lifelike android receptionist, was placed in a classroom, teaching a group of fifth-grade students. Today, Koba lab focuses on products such as the muscle suite to enhance the life of elderly people.

Professor Hiroshi Kobayashi in Tokyo University on Sciences develops robotic systems for everyday life and elderly care. He started researching the possibility of care assisting robots in 2006 which resulted in pres- entation of his first fully functional robot to public in 2014. The first model was commercially manufactured and successfully sold at the Japanese market. Previously developed models have undergone improve- ment and become considerably easier in use. The latest model of the “Muscle jacket” is so called “stand alone” unit which does not require a compressor connection. The new model of the “Muscle jacket” has been tested with remarkable results in actual setting with the purpose of rehabilitation for the patients with limited mobility of various levels at care facilities in Japan. The area of application if the “Muscle” jacket is viewed to be expanded in near future from performing heavy manual tasks to more sophisticated operations in geriatric care and other related medical fields.

The delegates were given an opportunity to try on the “Muscle jacket” and lift 20 kg weight.

Among the topics of discussion were also brought up the possibility to organize training sessions for stu- dents and care givers from Hong Kong at the platform of the University of Science, Katsushika Campus under the guidance of Professor Kobayashi. page 10

Private assisted living: PanaHome

Sekisui Heim and Taisei Corporation Housing Show Room

PanaHome is a model room p which resents monitoring systems and other efforts to make the life of elderly people more comfortable and safe.

The delegation had an opportunity to see Panahome features and how major Japanese construction corporations offer solutions for the residents that require geriatric care.

To respond to the needs of rapidly aging society the residential construction corporations implement in the house design the following aids:

• Handrails for different users for action and walking support • Slopes for the residents with limited mobility in a wheel chair • Barrier-free living space designed for moving around in a wheel chair • A toilet with arm-rests that make standing and sitting easy • Climate control within the entire house allowing to maintain the same pre-set temperature in all rooms • Lifts that enable the residents with limited mobility to move between different living space levels within the house

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