Toyama City is promoting integrated and inclusive care services for the elderly population, and local networks play a key role. The city has 32 community general support centers as contact points for the elderly people in each community, where experts (e.g. nurses, certified social workers, welfare caretakers) monitor and guide the health of the elderly people and advise them to attend the Kadokawa Care Prevention Center, when necessary. The city also works together with a city-based voluntary club which 36% of all the elderly citizens of the city have joined. The city asks several members in the club to take a leadership role in promoting community-based activities for preventive care and communicating with the support centers and the City of Toyama. This community-based approach also helps members become more aware of their own health, and it enhances self-reliance and encourages mutual help among communities.
- Utilizing local networks to promote care services for the elderly population
- Membership Scheme for Promoting Preventive Care
Preventive care is one of the critical concepts to be applied in a rapidly aging society, which could enhance the well-being of the elderly, and reduce the financial burden of individuals and pubic services. It can support elderly people to have a self-reliant life and decrease the number of frail elderly citizens who need careful long-term nursing. Integrating preventive care services with other nursing and health care services provided by other public services and networking with local communities can provide higher quality of services more effectively and efficiently.