FINLAND: Finnish Help Japanese Face Old Age

HELSINKI (eFinland Weblog), December 8, 2005: 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. 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. More information http://sendai.fwbc.jp http://www.finpro.fi http://www.fwbc.fi/