Title: Options for Aged Care in Japan

Submitted by: Noriko Dethlefs, Japanese Program, Faculty of Arts, University of Wollongong, Australia

In the coming millennum, Japan will be facing challenges as a nation having the highest ratio of aged population in the world. To meet these challenges, there are new initiatives and a range of new technologies for aged care which the government is pursuing. Increasingly, we hear of concepts such as 'technofix', 'gerontechnology', 'welfare technology', 'barrier free technology', and 'ro-man' (meaning integrating robotics and humans). These indicate the interests and often the pro-active approaches in developing technology which addresses this contemporary social issue. This paper will introduce, analyse and evaluate some of the alternative technology options for aged care. One option is to not seek any technology assistance in aged care; alternatively, to develop 'big' technology such as robotics. Thirdly, another option is to develop 'small' technology such as the barrier free services. Ideally, the Japanese government will adopt policies which will optimally combine the full range of technology choice in aged care.

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Carol Burnett
Asialink
The University of Melbourne
Parkville 3052
Victoria AUSTRALIA

Phone: 61 - 3 - 9349 1899
Fax : 61 - 3 - 9347 1768

Email: c.burnett@asialink.unimelb.edu.au