[Feasibility of "well-aging facility" of "well-aging community promotion program"].

The government "Well-Aging Community Promotion Program" (WAC) defines a "Well-Aging Facility" (WAF) consisting of a gymnasium for the elderly, an education-center for the elderly, a service-center for handicapped elderly and their families, and a fee-for-service nursing home, and incorporated funding provisions for WAF. Because of economic reasons, with the exception of fee-for-service nursing home, there is only one WAF at present. An economic-feasibility study of WAF was conducted based on regional analysis of existing public facilities and the needs of the elderly, and proposals for promoting WAF and WAC were made. The results are as follows: 1. In large and middle-size cities, many types of public facilities exist within walking distance, but the number per capita of elderly is low. In small-size cities and towns the number per capita of elderly is high, but are rarely within walking distance. 2. Rather than investment in facilities, the role of private business in WAC can be described as investment in services such as management-services for public facilities and transportation among facilities. 3. As for economic feasibility of WAF, in large and middle-size cities the education-center is viable, but for the gymnasium facility it would be based on utilization of facilities not only for elderly but multi-generational. The feasibility for the service-center will be high in large cities but low in middle-size cities. 4. For small-size cities and towns, the management of the gymnasium, and the education-center will be feasible, but the service-center will be difficult. 5. To promote WAC in small-size cities and towns, the following will be needed. a. The development of transportation systems between homes and facilities. b. The promotion of multi-purpose use of facilities beyond the established purpose of each WAC public facility. c. The establishment of new multi-sectional management entities by both the public and private sectors to manage existing public facilities. d. Development of financial support program by the government for upgrading and remodeling of existing facilities to function as an alternative of the WAF.