[New Taipei City News] On April 11, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih led a municipal delegation to Tokyo, Japan, with the first stop being a visit to Zenkoukai, one of Japan’s most prominent social welfare corporations. The visit aimed to draw insights from Japan’s leading practices in technology-integrated eldercare as New Taipei continues to expand and upgrade its long-term care services. Mayor Hou Yu-ih emphasized that as the city’s aging population continues to grow, the demand for long-term care services is also on the rise. He stressed the importance of leveraging emerging technologies to provide seniors with more comfortable, dignified care while offering peace of mind to their families. This visit was not only an opportunity to learn from Japan’s leading practices but will also serve as a valuable reference as New Taipei advances its Long-Term Care 3.0 initiative and integrates smart innovation into eldercare.
Zenkoukai is one of Japan’s pioneering welfare organizations. Its flagship facility, Santa Fe Garden Hills, is a comprehensive long-term care center rooted in holistic care principles. The facility has adopted a wide range of high-tech equipment and information systems, including care robots, smart mattresses, behavioral sensors, automated transfer aids, and an AI-powered care management platform. These tools support caregivers in closely monitoring residents’ health while significantly improving the efficiency and quality of services.
Mayor Hou highlighted that New Taipei City is home to approximately 770,000 senior citizens and currently operates 114 day care centers, all dedicated to creating a secure, age-friendly environment where seniors can enjoy aging in place with dignity. As the city faces the mounting challenges of a rapidly aging population, he emphasized that the adoption of smart technology will be a key pillar in strengthening long-term care services. Therefore, Zenkoukai’s success in easing workforce pressures and enhancing service quality through advanced technologies offers valuable insights for New Taipei’s own development.
In particular, Zenkoukai’s seamless integration of institutional, home-based, and community care reflects a highly integrated yet human-centric approach. Their utilization of data analytics and AI tools to support early intervention and personalized care planning stood out as a forward-thinking model for smart eldercare policies in New Taipei.
Commissioner Chen Ran-chou of the New Taipei City Department of Health added that the delegation’s visit also included in-depth discussions on building age-friendly environments, training professional caregivers, and integrating smart long-term care systems. The exchange of ideas with Zenkoukai not only enriched the delegation’s understanding of facility operations but also opened new avenues for international collaboration in eldercare innovation. New Taipei City Government remains committed to building an age-friendly city through three key strategies: “Preventive Care and Delayed Disability”, “Aging in Place”, and “Smart Eldercare Solutions”.
