Toward the realization of a better aged society: Messages from gerontology and geriatrics

The subcommittee for aging, thus, provided the following proposal: 1 Development and promotion of systems that enable elderly people to participate socially and make a contribution using an interdisciplinary approach among the various areas, including nursing science, nursing care, study of social welfare, social science, psychology, economics, religion and ethics, as well as medical sciences; 2 Promotion of gerontology, reform and enhancement of geriatrics in undergraduate, postgraduate and lifelong education; 3 Building geriatric medical centers in each area, and accumulating large-scale evidence of geriatric diseases and geriatrics; and 4 Structural development and promotion of home-based care and multidisciplinary care. Through implementation of the above measures, Japan is expected to function as a successful example for the rest of the world.