Aging Population and Japan: Yokohama's Medical Policy for Regional Frailty Prevention

Regional Medical Policies and Challenges Toward Healthy Life Expectancy

　　Japan has entered a super-aged society, with over 21% of its population aged 65 and above. In Kanagawa Prefecture, where Yokohama City is located, the aging rate exceeded 23.9% in 2015 and is expected to continue rising. The pace of aging in Japan is faster than in Western countries, urging the entire nation to adapt to this demographic shift.

　　To address this, Yokohama City has implemented policies to prevent the increase of frailty—a condition between being healthy and requiring nursing care. The concept of prevention is gaining significance in Japan, and Kanagawa Prefecture has been promoting the term "ME-BYO" (pre-disease) to extend healthy life expectancy.

These national and municipal efforts not only protect citizens' health but also help curb rising medical costs, ensuring the sustainability of the social security system and maintaining access to healthcare for all.

Hamapro: Social Policy for Frailty Prevention in Yokohama

　　Amidst these social challenges, Yokohama City launched a new elderly care prevention service in June 2024, aiming to prevent and improve frailty while supporting independent living for the elderly. This initiative, called Hamapro (Health Promotion), has been piloted in Minami, Sakae, and Izumi wards as of February 2025 in Yokohama city.

　　The program is designed to enable more elderly residents to maintain independent lives. A key feature of Yokohama's approach is personalized prevention, utilizing health data—including medical check-up results, healthcare records, and nursing care certification information—to identify vulnerable elderly individuals and provide tailored preventive care services. Although still in its trial phase as of 2024, the city plans to expand the program based on the results from its initial implementation.

　　Beyond its data-driven, personalized healthcare policies, Hamapro also collaborates with gyms and medical organizations to offer specialized programs for citizens in need. The two-month course includes sessions led by certified trainers and various field experts. Additionally, pharmacists from the Yokohama Pharmacists Association provide lectures on medication management, further supporting public health improvement.

　　Japan, as a super-aged society, is actively developing policies to sustain its social structure while ensuring the health of its citizens. These initiatives are not merely theoretical frameworks but are reinforced through the collaboration of professionals from diverse fields, as seen in the operation of this program.