P24 The role of mobility for aging society in Japanese local area

Abstract

BackgroundThe rate of the elderly population in Japan is the top-level in the world. While an elderly aged 75 and over increases in recent years, the policy for extending their health expectancy is required. In order to maintain a sustainable living at the place, a medical service, shopping, a locomotor, nutrition, and social participation are important. And it can consider the maintenance of a mobility option also including social capital. However, in a lot of local areas, advantage of an automobile is a precondition, and the mobility for medical-service, shopping and living support is a main issue. MethodsIn this topic, it is investigated mobility and health promotion surveys for some local areas where the aging progressed in Hyogo, Japan. the relevance is analyzed between elderly mobility and living environment by using the survey. And it is focused on a role of mobility in the promotion of social participation by or infrastructure improvement for the elderly. ResultsMany elderly people drive their own car or are driven by others. And the user of optional bus or transport is a minority (there is little supply). As the character, there are also many driving (sending) by household and family. A single elderly is used about the alternative tool of own car. Those who hardly go out (N=190) has walking-difficulty (N=165). Those who hardly go out (N=181) are not participated in the health promotion class (N=146) in their living area. Walking difficulty has a restrictive in an access of a bus stop, and they cannot use it even if develops a bus. The total amount of special transport is small in Japanese local area. ConclusionsMany healthy elders are people who drive an automobile by themselves. Their mobility level is high and their social participation is also frequent. However, if cognitively impaired and frail elders increase in number, driving will be difficult and these problem will interfere with everyday mobility. If driving is impossible, personal mobility problems occur, and it will lead to be faced with the sustainable problem in the regional place. These should be recognized as a new problem of preventive health care for the elderly. It would like to be argued about the elderly policy, the role of mobility, and the production of a community of a local government in Japan.