Care for Home-bound Older Adults and Revitalization of Local Shopping Arcade

The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced, on Respect-for-the Aged Day in September, 2005, that the population over 65 is over 20 % of the nation’s total population. The Ministry also announced on June 1, 2006, that the special total birth rate in Japan recorded the lowest value of 1.25. If the birth rate continues to decrease faster than estimated, the ratio of older adults to the nation’s total population will increase faster than expected. As new housing and large-scaled supermarkets are planned and constructed in the suburbs, older adults, the poor and the disabled people who cannot afford to drive for utilizing suburb supermarkets are forced into old inactive residential area and shopping arcade. Older adults hope to communicate with others, which can be facilitated by advanced technology. The case studies in this study show that older adults can satisfy such needs by communicating with shop owners in local shopping arcade. The secret for the revitalization of local shopping arcade lies in the care for home-bound older adults. We recommend a concept of cozy compact city where home-bound older adults can actively enjoy their lives in and out of their home and the local shopping arcade can be revitalized.