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Aging Populations: Lessons In Healthy Aging From Japan

Explore Japan's aging population problems and discover their policies and solutions for a long and enjoyable life.

4,966 enrolled on this course

Three happy looking older people talking and resting after exercising

Aging Populations: Lessons In Healthy Aging From Japan

4,966 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn how social engagement and inclusivity supports healthy aging in Japan

Approximately 28% of Japan’s present population is 65 or over. It is expected that by 2030, one out of every three people will be elderly. On this course, you’ll consider the challenges of an aging population, and discover why this super-aging society does not lack vitality.

You will explore the concept of healthy aging from a scientific and healthcare perspective, and identify the impact of social engagement for aging populations. You’ll also learn the policies surrounding age-inclusivity in Japan, and discover how the government and communities are supporting their aging society together.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 5 seconds “Healthy aging” is a very important concept for creating a society in which long life can truly be enjoyed. Japan has more rapidly become a super-aged society than any other country in the world. Approximately 28% of the present population is 65 or over, and it is expected that in 2030 one out of every three people will be elderly. Hello, I’m Tomoko Koike, the lead educator of this course. What can we do to make such an aging society attractive and energetic instead of a burden?

Skip to 0 minutes and 55 seconds There are three important components of a healthy-aging society: services, communities, and policies. In this course, I along with three other colleagues, will present examples of grappling with this issue from various perspectives in Japan, and, together with all of you, examine various ways to approach an aging society. It’s important to remember that the issues to be considered here are not only limited to Japan and other developed countries, but will face all countries and regions of the world in the near future. By taking part in this course, we hope you can pick up some new ideas on how to make a successful aging society in your own region or country.

Skip to 1 minute and 59 seconds What kind of society would you like to live in as an elderly person?

What topics will you cover?

Week 1 - What is the Super-Aged Society?

  • The concept of healthy aging.
  • The mechanisms of healthy longevity from a scientific and medical perspective.
  • An overview of three components of support for healthy aging: services, communities and policies.

Week 2 - Healthy Aging and Healthcare Service

  • Various kinds of support for individuals’ healthy aging through care services and technology.
  • How to prevent decline in function due to aging and compensating for it when it does occur.

Week 3 - Healthy Aging and Social Engagement

  • Case studies of support for social engagement by local communities.
  • How to enable the elderly to participate in society with a sense of purpose, even whilst aging.

Week 4 - How to promote an Inclusive Society

  • Policies working toward an age-inclusive society.
  • Various initiatives that are underway in Japan through joint efforts by the government, the private sector, and academia.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify both the challenges and the possibilities of a super-aged society.
  • Explain the concept of healthy aging and what is necessary for it.
  • Explore innovative strategies for individuals, communities, and healthcare services to bring about healthy aging.
  • Improve your lifestyle for your own healthy aging.
  • Evaluate the policies for age-inclusivity in your own community.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for policy makers, carers, educators and researchers engaged in elderly care.

It will also be useful for anyone interested in living as a healthy older person and anyone considering technological or business development to support the elderly.

Who will you learn with?

I’m an associate professor at Keio University, Japan, with more than eighteen years’ experience in the study of health care policies. I have much interest in creating an age-friendly society.

I’m an associate professor at Keio University, and my specialty is psychiatric and mental health nursing. I hope to share my knowledge and information with learners all over the world.

I'm a research associate at Keio University. I specialize in gerontological nursing, and utilizing my experience as a nurse I hope that more older people can lead healthy, happy lives.

I am a professor at the Division of Gerontological Nursing at Keio University. My main research interest is in nursing care for older people living in long-term care facilities.

Who developed the course?

Keio University

Keio University is Japan’s first modern institution of higher learning, and since 1858 has established itself as a leader in Japan through its continued commitment to education, research and medicine.

  • Established

    1858
  • Location

    Tokyo, Japan
  • World ranking

    Top 200Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 25 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
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  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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