Int.Home Care &
Rehabilitation Exhibition

H.C.R.2011 opened with remarks by Mr. Juro Saito, the chairperson for the Japan National Council of Social Welfare. Joining Mr. Saito for the opening ceremony were Mr. Christian Carstensen (H.C.R. Europe Coordinator) from Denmark, Mr. Tom Borcherding (H.C.R. North American Coordinator) from U.S.A. and Mr. Kazuhiro Kobayashi (President of Health and Welfare Information Association). The doors were opened to the exhibit halls following the ceremony.

510 companies (453 Japanese companies and 57 overseas companies) representing 13 countries and 1 territory presented more than 20,000 home care and rehabilitation equipment products. Although it was raining in the morning, the number of visitors gradually began to increase and in the afternoon, all 6 exhibition halls were crowded with many visitors interested in the exhibition were trying out the equipment and consulting with exhibitors.

In the Great East Japan Earthquakes, many people suffered and had to live in quite difficult condition. Aged and disabled people at institutions or care houses were no exceptions. Now, it is obvious that we should review the ways to avoid or prevent natural disasters especially for those people and the institutions, and to find better solutions are urgent tasks for us. If you are prepared, you don't have to worry.

At the booths of disaster support area in special sites, useful welfare equipment at disaster area and emergency supplies for welfare institutions were displayed and introduced with demonstrations.

Useful and new equipment and ideas which support daily lives of elderly and disabled persons were introduced, including openers of plastic bottles, cans, and bottle caps, and, tactual displayed containers which shows difference between shampoo and conditioner, plastic cling wrap and aluminum foil, or canned drink with and without alcohol.

Each program covered a wide variety of themes regarding Medical and Welfare topics. And many people interested in participated in the seminars and the demonstrations.

(day1)

Programs for executives, directors and staff of social welfare institutions: The themes were "The new accounting standards for social welfare corporation," "The useful idea of services developed on-site for residents of facilities" and "Natural disaster—how we prepare against natural disasters at welfare facilities."

Programs for users and families:
"Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment for Beginner"
  How to Select and How to Use Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment
The specialists provided lectures with demonstrations aiming at the users acquire a better knowledge of the correct use of equipment.

(The topics of day1)

"House Renovation," "Toilets & Excretion related equipment," and "Bating related equipment"

Programs for users and families:
"Cooking lessons for elderly・Daily easy cooking for families with elderly persons
~ Let’s arrange meals with the ready–made foods or the convenience store lunch!~"
Meal is a base of life. In these days, more single elderly people and senior couples buy ready made foods or lunch boxes for their everyday meals and less people cook for themselves. In this program, specialists introduced arranging meals with little efforts but well-balanced nutrients based on the ready-made foods or the convenience store lunch.

Workshops covering 17 different topics were presented by exhibitors. They provided the latest information to the visitors.

On the second day of H.C.R.2011, we had 41,729 visitors.
The weather became beautiful though it was cloudy in the morning. Many visitors including media and organizations who covered the story of H.C.R. 2011 came and the halls were filled with excitement.

In recent years, research & development of welfare equipment has progressed utilizing new technologies such as ergonomics and sensor technology, etc., and that enabled disabled persons to live more independently. In this special event, the latest welfare equipment was introduced.

Today, many developed countries are trying to change their financial policies from positive to sound and these movements are controversial in public.
We invited Dr. George W. Leeson, Co-director at Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford from the U.K. and he talked about the latest social situation in the U.K. and on-going system reforms including the Care system and the funding.

In these days, we see the remarkable development of the technological innovation of accessible products such as mobile-phones, smart-phones, and personal computers. Many of them can be used for the communication of disabled persons with ease and at less cost. Lately, E-books attract a lot of attention for its' potential contribution to the field of social welfare. In the seminars of the event, the functions of such products were introduced and the participants learned the practical use of them in the daily life.
The topics were "Life support equipment (day1)", "Communication skill (day2)", and "Ideas and techniques for a comfortable life (day3)".

(day2)

Programs for users and families:
The themes were "Report on new housing system for elderly and important points for selecting a house for elderly" and "Lecture about method of assistance for preventing low back pain: the basic techniques for nursing care."

(day3)

Programs for executives, directors and staff of social welfare institutions:
The themes were "Introduction of successful farming run by welfare institutions—build as brand name and contribute to regional economies," "Make life at evacuation center more confortable—furniture made of cardboard boxes," and "Learn about infection and how to control infections—Case study at facilities for elderly and disabled people in disaster areas."

Once again, a "Children's Square" was set up where a comprehensive range of home care and rehabilitation equipment for children was on exhibit. Educational equipment and communication equipment were displayed, as well as wheelchairs and aids for daily living. Since children and their parents could try out these products, this corner drew a great deal of interest. Consultation was also available at no charge on various topics such as proper use of home care and rehabilitation equipment, raising children from a medical point of view, and education.

Programs for users and families:
"Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment for Beginner"
　How to Select and How to Use Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment

(The topics of day2)

"Beds," "Mobility equipment, lifts," "Wheelchairs" and "Cane & walkers"

(The topics of day3)

"Car related aids," "Self-help devices" and "Communication equipment"

Workshops covering 16 different topics were presented by exhibitors. They provided the latest information to the visitors on the second day. On the last day, the workshops with 14 different topics were held by exhibitors.

The number of visitors on the final day of the exhibition was 37,513 and the total number of visitors for H.C.R. 2011 came up to 118,154. The weather was fine.
  Various programs were held on the third day, such as Social Welfare Skill Development Program "Introduction of successful farming run by welfare institutions" and "Make the life at evacuation centers more comfortable after natural disasters."

  We sincerely would like to express our gratitude to all exhibitors, organizations, and related people for their support and also to people in the field of welfare, nursing care and healthcare that cooperated with us to plan and operate H.C.R. 2011.
  We will continuously be making efforts for the development and distribution of home care and rehabilitation equipment and look forward to everyone's continued support and participation.