Enhancing Healthcare Access for Older Adults through Innovative Mobility Solutions Leveraging Public Assets.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Transportation Science

Background:

• Japan faces challenges in healthcare access for its rapidly aging population, especially in rural regions, due to declining public transportation.
• Reduced mobility disproportionately affects older adults, limiting their access to essential medical services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight current innovative mobility service initiatives in Japan aimed at enhancing healthcare access for older adults.
• To explore the potential of integrating public infrastructure, such as the post office network, to further improve these services.

Main Methods:

• Review of ongoing and piloted innovative mobility services in Japan.
• Analysis of existing support systems for older adults, including home-visit care and transport subsidies.
• Exploration of leveraging public infrastructure for enhanced healthcare access.

Main Results:

• Several innovative mobility services, including ridesharing, mixed cargo/passenger transport, and medical Mobility as a Service (MaaS), are being implemented.
• Existing services like home-visit medical care and transportation subsidies are in place.
• Significant potential exists to enhance healthcare access by integrating services with public infrastructure like the nationwide post office network.

Conclusions:

• Innovative mobility services show promise in addressing healthcare access barriers for Japan's aging rural population.
• Strategic integration with public infrastructure offers a scalable approach to improving healthcare accessibility and support for older adults.