Aiming for a Lively 100 Years
Abstract:
Background and Objective: Like many other places, Omuta City is experiencing rapid population decline. While many residents are moving out of the city, extending the healthy life expectancy of those who reside here is also an important issue. We aim to transform Omuta City, at least the area around our hospital, into a longevity town and have launched the "Lively 100 Years" project.
Methods/Intervention: Realistically aiming for longevity requires not only the prevention of cancer and arteriosclerosis but also early detection and treatment at the hospital. However, in Japan, many hospitals do not have a generous budget. Therefore, we thought of encouraging residents to practice prevention through healthy eating and exercise while also receiving cancer and arteriosclerosis screenings and tests at the hospital. This approach would allow the hospital to have financial flexibility and continue the project. We aim to take a step further from previous longevity programs and set the goal of living an active life up to 100 years, even in the presence of a disease. In other words, both the residents and the hospital are part of the "Lively 100 Years" project.
Results: Recently, we successfully held the first meeting of the "Lively 100 Years" project with 33 participants. Next, we will hold an exchange meeting for the "Second Dream Note," an End-of-Life Care Plan (ACP) that includes Advance Care Planning. However, our "Second Dream Note" from the hospital is unique in that it encourages pursuing things left undone in life as a "second dream," which wasn't progressing as expected in the usual ACP. To live a "Lively 100 Years," not only a healthy body but also psychological motivation is necessary. The exchange meeting aims to share how everyone is practicing their "second dream" using the "Second Dream Note.
Conclusions/Lesson: learned Our efforts are still in their infancy. We are determined to continue and further develop this initiative.
