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In the city of Sendai in Japan people of advancing years
are treated at a wellbeing centre that is based on a model
for the care of old people and wellbeing technology originating
in Finland. Sendai-Finland Wellbeing Center will soon be extending
to Agano.
The Sendai Wellbeing Center comprises a care and service
unit that was built in 2004 and a research and development
unit that was completed in May 2005.
"The aim of the care and service concept is to provide
a wide range of services for people of advancing years in
the area, support their independence and scope for living
at home and maintain their functional capacity through rehabilitation.
The activities are lively and diverse," says Hilkka Tervaskari,
the managing director.
"The research and development center promotes Japanese-Finnish
research and development in the wellbeing sector, the target
being the aging society and service and wellbeing technology
aimed at those of advancing years. The work has started with
a great deal of vigour," says Sinikka Salo, a director.
From a service into a product
Right from the outset one of the center's core tasks has
been the combining of Finnish expertise in services and technology
products into commercial products and then launching them
onto the Japanese market.
FWBC Finland Oy (Finnish Wellbeing Center), a company jointly
owned by several Finnish companies and created on the basis
of the Sendai project, is now responsible for marketing the
wellbeing product in Japan and elsewhere. The whole know-how
concept has been productized.
"Sendai has proved that Finnish wellbeing service products
are innovative. Even with a narrow area of expertise a good
export product can be successful," says a happy Salo.
Finnish influence to the fore
The Wellbeing Center represents not only Finnish care and
service expertise and wellbeing technology but also Finnish
architecture and design. The architectural design of the building
is based on a plan by the Finnish architect Mikael Paatela.
In August the research and development unit received an award
in Tokyo for being the year's best new office building in
Japan.
Most of the office's interior design consists of products
by Finnish designers and producers, such as Alvar Aalto, Artek
and Marimekko. The Finnish influence can also be seen in the
center's café/restaurant, where Finnish food is offered
daily. In the yard there is activity equipment developed for
aging people by the Finnish company Lappset Oy. Finnish environmental
expertise and safety and security equipment can be found in
the building.
Opening in Agano
A Wellbeing Center and town will also be built at Agano by
2008. FWBC Finland Oy has made an agreement for the conceptualization
of both ventures and planning work has already started.
Low-rise buildings, a health center, home service, rehabilitation,
group homes, a spa and a diversified shopping mall will be
built at Agano.
"The overall Finnish concept is a highly appreciated
product in Japan," Tervaskari says.
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More than enough demand for wellbeing services
"Finns are well placed to export wellbeing services
to aging people in Japan," says Hilkka Tervasari,
the managing director of FWBC Finland Oy.
Japan is one of the world's fastest-aging countries.
It is about the same size as Finland in area but has
128 million inhabitants (Finland 5.6 million). About
one-fifth of the population is over 65. The number of
old people living alone is increasing enormously.
Changes in Japanese legislation, a new insurance system
and new old-age policy are providing Finns with much
better opportunities to export Finnish services than
previously. The volume of home services has doubled
in three years - and the growth is continuing.
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