Kaiko-en (aged-care facility)

Address: 1016-10 Kamitaga, Atami, Shizuoka, Japan 413-010
Inquiries by phone (in Japanese): 0557-67-1971
Website: http://kaikoukai.jp/

Outline

This is an aged-care facility located in Atami city. Universal design elements are realized in human relation aspects such as the approach towards people living at the facility as well as their families.

Universal Design Examples

Replacement of on-site vending machines

• Conventional vending machines, whose products were hard to see and difficult to retrieve, were replaced by universal design type vending machines which are much easier to use, also for someone in a wheel chair.

Seminars on aging

• Whereas women living in aged-care facilities often tend to stop wearing makeup, sessions held in cooperation with cosmetics sales companies provide an impetus to care about one's appearance and enjoy the feeling of looking one's best. This has an uplifting effect on the wellbeing of persons living at the facility and improves the quality of life.

Improved staff manners

• Training courses for administrative staff about how to handle telephone inquiries and how to properly deal with other tasks at the facility were carried out. Name tags were changed to feature larger and more easily legible print. Care-giving staff regularly undergo training including role play, to ensure a positive and proper attitude both towards the inhabitants of the facility as well as towards family members and other visitors. Appropriate nursing care is thought to require not only skills but also appropriate manners.

Photos