Summary
The Tochikubo area in Hadano city has as high as 52.8% of elderly population over 65 years old and also has many single households as well as aged households.
It was difficult for residents to go grocery shopping over the hills because there is no shop nearby and no public bus service available.
In order to solve this situation, a social welfare facility in the area, neighborhood associations and Hadano city have signed an agreement to start a transportation service where volunteers drive a vehicle offered by the social welfare facility to take residents to a supermarket once a week.
This effort has succeeded in not only making shopping easier but also improving neighborhood watch functions and revitalizing the community. The aged users look forward to talking with their fellow passengers on the car as well.
The volunteer drivers are elderly themselves, and looking at users enjoying the ride, they feel content and motivated to contribute to the community.
The next challenge is to keep this service available for a long time, so Hadano city will continue to support this effort by conducting a leader training program and other measures.
Key facts
Main target group: Vulnerable older people (e.g. at risk or victims of abuse, living alone, poor etc.)
Sector(s): Transportation
Desired outcome for older people:
Be mobile
- Accessibility
- Ageing in place