With more than 10% of its population now over 80 years old, Japan holds the distinction of having the world’s oldest population. This demographic shift places significant pressure on public finances and the caregiving system, prompting innovative responses from start-ups eager to find solutions.
As Japan grapples with these mounting challenges, a wave of technological innovations is transforming elderly care. In a country where 63.5% of households with a person aged 65 or older have caregivers who are also seniors, and 35.7% of these households see both the caregiver and recipient aged 75 or older, the need for advanced solutions is pressing. By 2025, all of Japan’s baby-boom generation will be over 75, exacerbating the shortage of caregivers due to the nation’s declining birthrate and graying demographic.
In response, the elderly care market in Japan is integrating AI technologies to offer innovative solutions. AI-powered sensors, for instance, can detect falls and unusual activities, ensuring quick action and notifying caregivers or emergency responders. Inspired by advancements in the United States and Europe, Japan is adeptly incorporating foreign technology into its elderly care devices. This article delves into how Japanese start-ups are leading the way in developing these cutting-edge technologies, providing a lifeline to the country’s growing elderly population.
Key players
Welmo.inc: Since 2013, Welmo.inc has focused on providing innovative solutions in the healthcare sector. Their primary product is a wearable device that monitors and tracks various health metrics such as heart rate, activity levels, and sleep patterns. Welmo also launched a R&D base in Finland where they collaborate with institutions and universities to ensure the expandability of their products. The branch, WELMO FINLAND OY, is used as a base to enhance its worldwide research efforts and establish partnerships with European firms to facilitate future business expansion into EU markets. Currently, they are working on Care Plan Assistant, a Support AI Engine, with Finnish and European academic and business partners.
☆ Why have we picked them? ☆
Welmo's dedication to global expansion has impressed us the most. Partnering with universities and institutes is crucial to keeping their product range innovative.
Triple W Inc. :Triple W Inc. focuses on developing and marketing wearable devices aimed at solving urinary incontinence issues. Their product, “DFree,” is the world’s first wearable device for urinary incontinence. DFree utilizes harmless ultrasonic waves to detect bladder expansion. By continuously monitoring and visualizing bladder conditions, the device accurately predicts the timing for urination, offering a practical and effective solution for elderly individuals by enhancing independence, reducing the burden of care, and improving overall quality of life. Since 2017, DFree has been adopted in more than 500 senior care facilities across Japan, Europe and the U.S.
☆ Why have we picked them? ☆
Triple W Inc is the first to have found a solution to a common issue faced by patients and caregivers. The speed at which they have rolled out their product internationally is a testament to its quality.
Sage Sentinel: Since 2022, Sage Sentinel offers sensors and wearable devices that adopt AI-based fall prevention technology. Designed to improve the quality of life for the elderly and their caregivers, it is capable of anticipating and preventing falls among senior citizens before they happen. By offering real-time monitoring, early warnings, and integration with preventive training, these technologies not only reduce the risk of falls but also empower elderly individuals to live more independently and with greater confidence. The company has been chosen to take part in startup support programs both within Japan and globally. The startup participated in Co-Design Workshop and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nottingham Trent University, fostering opportunities for collaborative research and the exchange of views between the institutions.
☆ Why have we picked them? ☆
With the increase in elderly individuals living alone, injuries from falls have become a growing concern, and Sage Sentinel has provided an innovative solution to this issue. Despite being a relatively new start-up, their global collaborations have demonstrated the necessity of their product.
These pioneering start-ups are not only advancing technology but also significantly enhancing the quality of life for the elderly and the workload of caregivers.
As Japan faces the pressing challenges of an aging population, the innovative solutions provided by these pioneering start-ups offer new technologies to relieve common issues among the elderly. By integrating AI-driven devices and global collaborations, these firms are enhancing the quality of life for the elderly and easing the burden on caregivers. As these technologies continue to evolve, they promise to play a crucial role in addressing the demographic challenges Japan—and many other aging societies—will increasingly encounter.
About Trusted
At Trusted Corporation, our primary focus is helping you create sustainable solutions involving the European and Japanese innovation ecosystems. We are a global venture builder primarily focusing on creating solutions for carbon neutrality, renewable energy, aging society, and smart cities.
If you wish to get involved and work with key players within the sustainability industry, visit our website or reach out to us at contact@trusted-inc.com.
Authors:
Asha Mistry
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