Nursing, Funeral Services, and Administration Address "After Parents' Death" and "8050 Problem" Issues: A Lecture and Exchange Meeting Discussing the "Dementia Kobe Model" with Local Practitioners

As the number of elderly individuals living alone increases, we face the question of "who will provide support?" Accel Plus LLC, which operates a visiting nursing station, will hold a lecture event titled "Solving Worries Beyond Welfare!! ~The 1st Challenge in Building a Platform to Support the Community~" on Friday, July 17, 2026, from 2:00 PM at Suma Patio Hall (Suma Ward, Kobe City) (co-sponsored by Suma Ward Office, free admission).

The speakers will include the representative of Accel Plus, who works on the front lines of visiting nursing, and Mr. Oi, Representative Director of Oi Funeral Home Co., Ltd. Ms. Noda from the administration will discuss the "Dementia Kobe Model," Japan's first subsidy for dementia diagnosis. Mr. Tsuchihara, Executive Director of the NPO Suma Universal Beach Project, will serve as moderator.

Key Points of this Event

* Community Challenges in an Era Without Next of Kin With the rise of the "after parents' death" problem for elderly individuals living alone and people with disabilities, and the increasing "8050 problem" (elderly parents supporting middle-aged unemployed children) due to middle-aged and older people becoming recluses, issues that cannot be resolved within the "framework of systems" like long-term care insurance and medical insurance are accumulating on the ground. Practitioners who support community members will share their real-world experiences.

* The Dementia Kobe Model An explanation of the "Dementia Kobe Model," Japan's first diagnostic subsidy and accident relief system. This will be an opportunity to re-examine administrative policies from the perspective of local practitioners.

* Cross-Industry Collaboration Beyond Welfare We believe that creating an unusual platform that transcends industry boundaries, such as visiting nursing, funeral services, administration, legal services, employment support, and遺品整理 (personal effects management), is the first step toward building a system to protect community members within the community.

Background of the Event: Worries Outside of Welfare and Falling Between the Cracks of the System In Kobe City, the population aged 65 and over is approximately 440,000, with an aging rate of about 30%. The number of single-person elderly households is also increasing, making support for elderly individuals without next of kin a community issue.

In Suma Ward, where aging and the increase in single-person households are progressing, many voices are heard from care managers, medical and welfare professionals, and community residents, such as: "Long-term care insurance can only do so much, and families cannot support individuals after a dementia diagnosis," "Who will support those without family to rely on, and to what extent? Who will handle procedures after death and funeral arrangements?" and "There is no emergency contact, and we have trouble with procedures during hospitalization and discharge."

The "after parents' death" problem for people with disabilities and the "8050 problem" due to middle-aged and older people becoming recluses are also becoming more serious, and these are issues that the welfare sector alone cannot solve.

Accel Plus, from the perspective of visiting nursing, and Oi Funeral Home Co., Ltd., from the perspective of funeral services, have both faced voices that fall through the cracks "before the system" and "after the system." This lecture event brings together practitioners from these different positions and the administration to take the first step in creating a "platform to support the community" that transcends industry boundaries. A Q&A session with participants will also be held after the lecture.

Event Overview

Name: Solving Worries Beyond Welfare!!

~The 1st Challenge in Building a Platform to Support the Community~

Date and Time: Friday, July 17, 2026, 2:30 PM Registration Starts

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Lecture / 4:00 PM - 4:40 PM Q&A Session

Venue: Suma Patio Hall (Suma Patio Health Hall 3F)

2-2-7 Nakaochi-ai, Suma Ward, Kobe City *Immediately near Nagata Station

Participation Fee: Free (Advance registration required)

Target Audience: Care managers, medical and welfare professionals, general citizens interested in community building

Co-Sponsorship: Suma Ward Office

Organizer: Accel Plus LLC, Accel Plus Visiting Nursing Station

Cooperation: Oi Funeral Home Co., Ltd., Asphire Co., Ltd.,

NPO Suma Universal Beach Project

How to Register: Register via the QR code on the flyer or by FAX (078-754-9586)

Click here for WEB registration → https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsQYrSI9otrfR-M7y7s564KWnb5Nmv8PM9ukxMuAiaWxVwCA/viewform?usp=send_form

Speakers

Hikaru Sasaki | Representative, Accel Plus LLC / Physical Therapist

Operates Accel Plus Visiting Nursing Station in Suma Ward, Kobe City. As a welfare professional and physical therapist, he addresses "voices that cannot be fully saved within the framework of the system" from the front lines of medical and nursing care.

Hiroshi Oi | Representative Director, Oi Funeral Home Co., Ltd. / Funeral Director

As a funeral service professional, he has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by bereaved families and the community after a death. In this lecture, he will discuss "The Future of the Community Seen from the Funeral Service Industry."

Guest Speaker

Kuniko Noda | Kobe City Welfare Bureau

Will explain the "Dementia Kobe Model," Japan's first subsidy for dementia diagnosis and accident relief system.

Moderator

Shogo Tsuchihara | Representative Director, Asphire Co., Ltd., Executive Director, NPO Suma Universal Beach Project

<Corporate Profile>

Organization Name: NPO Suma Universal Beach Project

Location: 1-14-10 Komagabayashi-cho, Nagata Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Dorf 21-102

Representative: Shunsuke Kido

Established: November 2, 2017

URL: https://sumauniversalbeach.com/

Business Activities: With the slogan "Turning everyone's 'cannot do' into 'can do!'," we are engaged in activities to promote universally designed beaches that everyone, from people with disabilities to the elderly and young children, can enjoy. Since Reiwa 3 (2021), our activities have been featured in junior high school social studies textbooks as an advanced case study for achieving SDGs, under the title "People Aiming for a Sustainable Future."

<Major Awards> * Public-Private Partnership Award, Excellence Award (2026) * ICC Summit Catapult Presentation (2025, 2026) * Official Government Public Relations SNS Feature (2025 Fiscal Year) * Blue Flag Best Practice Award, 2nd Place Worldwide (2023 Fiscal Year) * Japan Tourism Agency Blue Flag Certified Case (2022, 2023 Fiscal Years) * Education Publishing Junior High School Civic Textbook Feature (2021 Fiscal Year) * Japan Tourism Agency Advanced Case Study for Achieving Sustainable Tourism (2020 Fiscal Year) * IAUD International Universal Design Award Gold Prize (2019) * Hyogo Universal Society Creation Award (2018)

<Contact Information>

Suma Universal Beach Project PR Office

Executive Director: Shogo Tsuchihara

Via the form on HP: https://sumauniversalbeach.com/

TEL: 080-3782-4405

e-mail: [email protected]