First Introduction in a Care Facility! A Savior for the Super-Aged Society: Mirable Assist Bath Begins Operation at "Koran Morinomiyako" Assisted Living Home

SCIENCE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, President: Yasuhiro Mizukami, hereinafter "the Company"), a next-generation infrastructure company aiming to solve social issues with fine bubble technology, has introduced the "Mirable Assist Bath," a fine bubble bathing device for care, at "Koran Morinomiyako" (Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture), an assisted living home operated by SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo).

This product is the first social implementation model developed based on the technology of the "Mirai Human Washing Machine" exhibited at last year's Expo. The Company is proceeding with the social implementation of the "future bathing experience" proposed at last year's Expo, and this is the first introduction to a care facility. It aims to reduce the burden of bathing assistance in care settings and improve the comfort and dignity of users, while also expanding the new possibilities of fine bubble technology into the care domain.

Development Background

In recent years, with the advancement of a super-aged society, care demand has increased, while labor shortages have become severe in the field. "Bathing assistance" in particular presents significant challenges in reducing burden and ensuring safety, including the physical strain on staff during washing, the need to consider skin problems and fall risks for users, and the prolonged duration of assistance. The Company focused on these issues and developed the "Mirable Assist Bath" to contribute to improving the quality of the bathing environment, reducing assistance burden, and enhancing safety by utilizing its long-cultivated fine bubble technology.

This product is an application of the "Mirai Human Washing Machine" technology exhibited at the Expo to the care field. By utilizing its proprietary fine bubble technology, it supports efficient and comfortable bathing assistance even with a small number of staff, while being considerate of users' skin.

Product Function Overview

1. Proprietary Microbubble Full-Body Cleaning Technology

- Ultra-fine bubbles generated in the bathtub envelop the entire body, realizing "washing just by soaking" which was previously impossible.

- Cleans using only water and air, making it safe for people with delicate skin.

2. Precision Care with Mirable Technology

- The shower head "Mirable" is used to clean areas not submerged in water, such as the face and hair.

- Employs a gentle and reliable cleaning mechanism that does not rely on strong water pressure.

3. Innovative Reduction of Burden in Care Settings

- Significantly reduces physically demanding work processes such as "supporting the body" and "scrubbing the body."

- Achieves a sustainable care environment by reducing the burden on the lower back and shoulders of care staff.

4. Safety-First Design Philosophy

- The adoption of a bathtub door completely eliminates the "stepping over" motion, which is dangerous for the elderly.

- Minimizes standing work, which carries a high risk of falls.

5. Evidence-Based Effects

- It has been confirmed that the moderate stimulation of ultra-fine bubbles warms the body from the core and prevents rapid cooling.

Conditions: After bathing for 5 minutes in regular hot water and microbubble hot water (38°C), body surface temperature was compared using infrared thermography after 15 minutes.

- Can be used to improve the post-bath environment for those concerned about feeling cold.

Future Outlook

In Japan, an increasingly super-aged society, the aging population continues to advance, with the population aged 65 and over reaching 36.19 million, accounting for 29.4% of the total population (*1). Meanwhile, approximately 2.72 million care workers are expected to be needed by fiscal year 2040 (*2), requiring an additional approximately 570,000 workers compared to fiscal year 2022. Reducing the burden on care sites and creating an environment where users can live safely, cleanly, and with dignity is one of the important social issues.

With this initial introduction as a catalyst, the Company will accelerate the social implementation of fine bubble technology in the care domain. Furthermore, as a next-generation infrastructure company that solves social issues with fine bubbles, we aim to become an indispensable presence in society by expanding our technology into essential areas of life such as "housing, medical care, and nursing care" through strong collaboration with partner companies.

*1: Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, "The Elderly in Japan as Seen from Statistics"

*2: Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, "Regarding the Number of Care Workers Required Based on the 9th Phase Long-Term Care Insurance Business Plan"

Comment: SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. "Koran Morinomiyako" Representative

We decided to introduce this device to balance the comfortable lives of our customers with an environment where our staff can work with peace of mind. Bathing assistance is one of the tasks that places a significant physical and mental burden on staff, including the physical strain during washing and the risk of falls.

The "Mirable Assist Bath" significantly reduces the heavy labor of scrubbing because dirt comes off just by soaking in the water, and the design that allows entry without stepping over is also a great source of relief for our staff. We have received very positive feedback from customers who have used it, such as "My skin feels moist and comfortable" and "I look forward to bath time." Through this technology, we will dramatically reduce the burden on our staff and achieve higher quality care that is more attentive to each individual.

Comment: Masateru Hirai, Vice President, SCIENCE Co., Ltd.

We are very pleased to have our "Mirable Assist Bath" introduced at Koran Assisted Living Home, providing users with comfortable moments that refresh their minds and bodies from the core in their daily lives.

The technology of the Mirable Assist Bath not only protects the comfort and dignity of users but also dramatically reduces the physical burden on care staff and greatly contributes to operational efficiency. In the face of the serious social issue of caregiver shortages due to an aging society, we believe this introduction is highly significant from the perspective of simultaneously achieving "improvement in care quality" and "reduction of on-site burden" in large-scale facilities.

In addition to the implementation in other fields such as housing, hotels, and medical care that SCIENCE has been developing, this full-scale entry into the care domain will further accelerate the social implementation of fine bubble technology. Moving forward, we will continue to enhance the quality of life for all people involved in care and all people involved in society, and contribute to the improvement of well-being for society as a whole.

About SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd.

SOYOKAZE Co., Ltd. is a major care provider that operates the "Soyokaze" brand nationwide. One of its strengths is the operation of "complex facilities" that provide multiple services such as day care, overnight stays, and housing within the same facility, allowing for consistent support for changes in users' conditions. In particular, it boasts the No. 1 number of short-stay facilities nationwide. Many facilities have their own kitchens to provide warm meals. Currently, it forms one of Japan's largest home care groups together with Tsukuhi.

URL: https://corp.sykz.co.jp/

Company Profile of SCIENCE

Company Name: SCIENCE Co., Ltd.

Location: Shin-Osaka Central Tower North Building 5F, 5-5-15 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, 532-0011

President: Yasuhiro Mizukami

Company Establishment: August 2007

Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, sales, and maintenance of fine bubble products

Website: https://i-feel-science.com/