Civic engagement and well-being in Japan: The role of peer support and volunteering in healthy aging and longevity Tokie Anme, Ph.D University of Tsukuba

The Essence of Positive Aging Peer support and volunteerig!

Purpose The presentation focused on a community program to clarify the importance of peer support and volunteering for civic empowerment.

Silver Human Resources Center It aims to create dynamic communities and to support meaningful and fulfilling lifestyles for older persons through the provision of appropriate work opportunities for people generally age 60 or over who desire to participate in society through a work style that suits them.

Peer support and volunteering Silver Human Resources Centers set in 1,600 municipalities throughout Japan Registered Center members total approximately 790,000 people nationwide in 2011.

Support each other! Each Center is contracted work by corporations, households, public organizations, and others and then it allots the work to its registered members based on the work content, frequency, and volume. Members receive a financial disbursement from the Center calculated based on the content of the work they performed and the number of hours they spent. The financial disbursement paid to members as work compensation averages about 50,000 to 60,000 yen a month.

The work categories indoor and outdoor general work (park cleanup, weeding, building janitorial work, poster hanging, etc.) facility administration (administration of car parking lots, bicycle parking lots, schools, community centers, and buildings, etc.) office work (general office work, reception work, addressing of envelopes, etc.)

Recreation at community center

Exercises suitable for the elderly

Exercise for fall prevention

Factors related to mortality after 11 years Importance of social Interaction 1) Having active role 2) Life style motivation 3) Feeling of importance 4) Active approach 5) Having counsel

People-Oriented Services 1.It means participation of all community members. 2.This implies not only their physical attendance, but also participation through their actions to expand their ability to choose services and obtain information. 3.Having some role in the development or offering of services motivates residence to achieve the project goals and, if they feel the project is their own, this will accelerate achievement.

Conclusion 1. These findings highlight the importance of social interaction in healthy longevity. 2. The introduction of new services such as "strengthening of social ties" represent initial steps in establishing systems that enable elderly persons to live independently with dignity. 3. An ongoing longitudinal study of elders in one community demonstrate that prevention-oriented services are essential to improving the healthy longevity of citizens, and that seniors will accept such services.