Int.Home Care &
Rehabilitation Exhibition

News

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H.C.R. 2003 News No. 4 (December/15/2003）

• Moving Towards H.C.R. 2004
• 629 Exhibitors From 14 Countries Participated
• Social Welfare Institutions and Home Care Services Sectors Increase for Past 3 Years
• Exhibitors Focus on Own Specialized Areas
• Visitor Questionnaire Results (8,352 Respondents)
• Domestic Exhibitors Questionnaire Results (226 Respondents)
• Questionnaire Results for Overseas Exhibitors （49 Respondents）
• 31st Int. Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition to be Held From October 13, 2004

Moving Towards H.C.R. 2004

Since the time we held our first home care and rehabilitation equipment exhibition in Japan in 1974, this year’s H.C.R. 2003 marked a 30 year milestone with 629 exhibitors in participation from 14 countries and more than 130,000 visitors in attendance.

Home care and rehabilitation equipment plays a vital role in meeting the increasing demands of care for the physically challenged and elderly persons, in addition to supporting their “independence.”

A great number of persons who use home care and rehabilitation equipment came to H.C.R. 2003 seeking to obtain information on a variety of equipment. At the exhibition site, visitors were looking at and trying a wide range of products, and scenes of them involved in enthusiastic interchanges could be seen. Accordingly, we have reaffirmed that we should continue in our endeavors to provide more detailed information to those needing it.

Social welfare services providers such as home care workers, care managers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, institutional care staff and others must assume a role in selecting suitable equipment for individual users. We would be pleased if services providers find our H.C.R. exhibitions to be a place where they may acquire new information and the knowledge to be able to make the best selection of products for users among the wide spectrum of home care and rehabilitation equipment.

Additionally, the development of home care and rehabilitation equipment, ranging from spoons to high-tech equipment, has steadily progressed along with new technologies and ideas. It is important for us to provide persons that are looking for equipment with the basic knowledge on how to select and use products suitable to their physical conditions and housing environment.

We published and distributed at H.C.R. 2003, 240,000 pamphlets detailing how to select and use equipment on six different themes, of which details may also be viewed at our web site. It is our sincere desire to continue in our objective to provide information for the further distribution of home care and rehabilitation equipment from the standpoint of users.

Throughout the year, the latest information on home care and rehabilitation equipment is being made available instantaneously through our web pages. During the past year, 270,000 pages of our H.C.R. web site were accessed. We will persevere in our efforts to organize our H.C.R. exhibitions as our main activity, and to provide information and a place for users, as well as persons involved in social welfare related services and other related companies to come together for interchanges.

We express our appreciation for everyone’s cooperation and support of our H.C.R. exhibitions.

Akira Suetsugu, President
Health and Welfare Information Association

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629 Exhibitors From 14 Countries Participated

There were 568 domestic exhibitors in participation which was an increase of 26 companies in comparison to last year, including 121 new exhibitors. The companies manufacturing home care and rehabilitation equipment belong to a wide range of industries. In the past several years, the number of new exhibitors has been about the same with 20% participating in the H.C.R. exhibition in the following year.

There were 61 overseas exhibitors from 13 countries in participation. Of those companies, 90% had agents in Japan and some have a subsidiary registered in Japan. There has been a gradual increase in the development of equipment to suit the Japanese environment and living conditions by the overseas exhibitors.

Exhibitors: 629 Companies From 14 Countries
(Japan: 568, Canada: 3, Denmark: 9, Finland: 1, France: 1, Germany: 7, Mexico: 1, Netherlands: 3, Norway: 1, Spain: 1, Sweden: 10, Switzerland: 2, UK: 6, USA: 16)

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Social Welfare Institutions and Home Care Services Sectors Increase for Past 3 Years

1. Purpose for visiting H.C.R. 2004 (Multiple responses)

The total number of visitors for the three-day exhibition was 138,010. The visitors from social welfare institutions and home care services sectors have increased for the past three consecutive years. (Visitors from social welfare institutions increased by 1.6% and visitors from the home care services sector increased by 2.1% over last year’s figures.)

The presence of end users of home care and rehabilitation equipment has become a common sight at the exhibition and the number of wheelchair users was a total of 3,400 for the three-day period.

Total Number of Visitors: 138,010 (Increase of 898 over last year)
Wednesday, October 15 (Cloudy, sometimes clear): 41,527 persons
Thursday, October 16 (Clear weather): 53,998 persons
Friday, October 17 (Clear weather): 42,485 persons

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Exhibitors Focus on Own Specialized Areas

The number of the companies exhibiting “support systems for the blind,” “bathing and daily living aids,” “social welfare related information” and “furniture” has been increasing. The exhibitors are focusing on products they exhibit to those they specialize in.

According to our survey on business trends of exhibitors conducted prior to H.C.R. 2003, the overall sales of the home care and rehabilitation equipment market in Japan was 105.9% over last year, with a steady increase from 100.6% for our previous survey.

The category that had the largest increase in sales was the “equipment for home and institutions,” followed by “toilet / diaper related products” and “cars for wheelchair users and others.”

Visitor Questionnaire Results (8,352 Respondents)

1.Purpose for visiting H.C.R. 2003 (Multiple responses)

2.What types of products were you looking for? (Multiple responses)

3.In regard to home care & rehabilitation products, what would you like to see? (Multiple responses)

4.Are you using overseas products?

5. Did you find any overseas products at H.C.R. 2003 that you would like to use?

6. In regard to the overseas products, what features were impressive?（Multiple responses）

◆ Comments Regarding Home Care & Rehabilitation Equipment and Usage

• There are very few opportunities to be able to master using home care and rehabilitation products. It is a must to be able to try them before purchasing.
• Would like to see more variety in options for users to choose from with more originality, ideas, colors, designs, etc. It’s hard to see any differences.
• There are still very few opportunities for users to think and make their own choices. Currently, care managers are primarily making the choices, but their lack of knowledge about the products is undeniable.
• Standards applicable to rental products under the public care insurance differ greatly from municipality. No matter what municipality, coverage should be made possible for useful products to be rented under a uniform insurance system.
• Differences in companies dealing in home care & rehabilitation equipment rental have become apparent. Companies providing test-driving, after purchase services and attention to other details are in demand.
• Products are good but prices are high; Since it is not easy to purchase goods, I often give up the thought of using such products.
• Would like prices of products to be clearly displayed.
• It is favorable that products are being improved, but as functions become so complicated, it becomes harder to use.
• The variety in products is great as it is possible to suit our needs. But, the differences in products are not clear. There are many issues on the part of development to be overcome.
• Opportunities to use home care & rehabilitation products in the home are increasing. Due to the small size of homes, it is often very difficult to use such equipment, and coordination of home improvements become most important.
• All manufacturers say their products are safe and reliable, but whether they have a standard is uncertain.
• There is a great variety but I don’t know how to select the best product to use in the best way.
• Unless a product is tried for a while, one can't tell the ease of use. If it isn’t suitable, it should be returnable or exchangeable.
• Would like to see development of products that may be recycled (used again, salvage parts, etc).
• Would like to see more home care products for children.
• In remote regions, even if one would like to purchase products, it is difficult to know where to go for assistance. Would like to see exhibitions in local regions.
• As a care giver, without adequate experience, I felt that I would not be able to distinguish the benefits of using various equipment. I would like to learn how to use equipment properly.

◆ Comments Regarding our H.C.R. Internet Services

• Would like to see an easier search method to find information on products. What about searching for products according to application or symptoms?
• Would be nice to have a place where communication with users could be made.
• It would be truly appreciated if there was a place to go for consultation on various matters, how to use equipment, and so forth.
• Not only introducing products, but what about obtaining opinions about using products, offering tips on how to use products, and so forth.
• Would like to be able to use the information on the home page not only via the computer, but also by using the cell phone.
• Would like to be informed of details of the company seminars and symposiums.

◆ Comments Regarding the H.C.R. 2003 Exhibition

• Would like to see more landmarks in the exhibition pamphlet and throughout the exhibition halls. Especially when it is crowded, it is not possible at all to tell where one is standing.
• Would like to see floors, booths, etc. color coded by product category.
• We were assisted by the attendant at the information counter. Additionally, if more attendants were in the halls at various places, it could have been better. I think there is a need for attendants to make rounds within the halls.
• As signs for product category zones were only hung from the ceiling, it was a little difficult to see. It is necessary to have signs where one does not have to look up.
• In the exhibition guide pamphlet, if the types of exhibited products were indicated in addition to the company name, it would be helpful.
• Would it be possible to have the booth numbers indicated on the floors of the aisles.
• It is difficult to find the Workshops and the Company Seminar Areas.
• The characters used in the exhibition guide are too small. Would like to see larger characters even if it means having more pages.
• The flow of people was smoother than last year at the registration counters, but it still took time. Would like to see more improvements.
• It is understandable that the aisles are made wide. When there are too many people the aisles become crowded. The booth also become very tight when it becomes crowded.
• It is difficult to understand the signs and status of the parking lot. If we knew the lot was full earlier, we could have gone elsewhere and gotten to the site earlier.
• Would like a special area where we can try products out.
• The elevators are so small that it is hard for wheelchair users to get in.
• Was greatly assisted as there was an attendant for the sight-impaired at the general information counter.
• Would be great if the sign language interpreter could accompany us in the exhibition halls.
• The exhibition during October this year was better than holding it in September, as was last year. The climate was relatively mild and less of a burden on the elderly.
• Would like the exhibition to be held on Saturday and Sunday.
• Would like exhibition hours to be extended.
• Felt the exhibition was filled with manufacturers zealous to research and develop better products. Was shown information on products that were at the cutting edge of this generation.
• Not only holding exhibitions, but also meaningful seminars is a good feature of H.C.R.

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Domestic Exhibitors Questionnaire Results (226 Respondents)

1. Was it beneficial to participate in H.C.R. 2003?

97.3% of respondents replied "very beneficial" or "somewhat beneficial," which was an increase of 0.8% over last year.

2. In specific, how was it beneficial? (Multiple responses)

◆ Domestic Exhibitors' Comments

• The visitors were able to look at and touch the products. They could gain a better understanding of the features and our suggestions regarding the products.
• It was helpful for our company to participate in H.C.R. and hear the uesrs' comments as we were new to this industry and it was our first time to participate in the exhibition.
• We were able to provide information to many possible users who were interested in our products.
• There were many visitors from manufacturers and distributors and very few from hospitals, but institutions.

3.What did you think about the zoning by product categories?

◆Domestic Exhibitors’ Comments

• The displays were separated by zones, however, it was still difficult to locate exhibitors that handled a variety of products.
• Is it possible to divide the exhibitors into a little more specific zones?
• The signs hung from the ceiling should be bigger.

4. Does your company handle overseas products?

5. How many new products a year does your company launch?

◆ Suggestions and Comments on H.C.R

• The sound level limits should be stricter. We often could not hear our customers when negotiating with them in our booth.
• The prohibition of smoking throughout the exhibition halls improved the exhibition environment. It would be good to improve the ventilation system in the smoking areas.
• As there were many snack corners in each hall, it became easier to find a place to have lunch.
• The halls were very crowded when moving out. Is it possible to move out more smoothly?
• Is it possible to close the final day of the exhibition earlier? It is hard for the exhibitors to return to distant areas.
• Please consider including Saturday and Sunday in the exhibition period.

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Questionnaire Results for Overseas Exhibitors (49 Respondents)

1. Participation in H.C.R. 2003:

2. By participating in H.C.R. 2003, our company: (Multiple responses)

◆ Overseas Exhibitors' Comments:

• Business is steadily improving year after year.
• Were able to talk directly to end users.
• Established better relationships with agents.
• Helped in gaining greater insight on the market.
• H.C.R. is important for our business in Japan.
• Reduce amount of paperwork exhibitors must complete. Would like more of the exhibitor registration and forms to be online.
• Should divide the 3 days into one "closed" day for professionals only and two days for the general public.

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31st Int. Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition to be Held From October 13, 2004

Next year, the 31st Int. Home Care & Rehabilitation Exhibition, H.C.R. 2004 will be held from October 13 to October 15. In reaffirming the role and significance of H.C.R., with a history of 30 years, we will persevere in our efforts to further the development and distribution of home care and rehabilitation equipment.

The application period will begin on March 1, 2004. Related information will be posted on our website as it becomes available. We look forward to the participation of many companies and organizations at H.C.R. 2004.

2004 Schedule

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