Motherth Inc, an elderly care provider in Chiba prefecture, has announced the launch of a trial service (Note 1) for nursing care in its Minami-Kashiwa facility. The new care service relies on Toyota Motor’s cognitive technologies and robotics solutions.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare forecasts a shortage of 340,000 caregivers (Note 2) by the end of 2025 when baby boomers reach the age of over 75, signifying the need for new solutions in the care industry.
By using Toyota’s cognitive technologies, the care service allows nursing staff to attend to patients from long distance, and makes it possible to check staff location on smart phone app and contact nurses in the proximity.
The trial service also allows to semi-automate administrative tasks such as compiling of nursing journals based on duties of each caregiver.
The use of ICT (information and communication technologies) aims to improve efficiency through long-distance communication and fast sharing of information needed for daytime nursing care and night-time attendance to patients.
In addition to improving the quality of life for the elderly, Motherth`s new care service aims to create a better working environment for the nursing staff. The company believes that caregivers’ good physical and mental health is important to maintain high quality of elderly care.
Note 1: Trial service timeframe August 2019 – May 2020
Note 2: “7th Report on nursing care insurance planning” by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (2018)