visiting care homes for elderly

[moonhare]

Hi everyone
this is my first attempt at posting so bear with me if i get it wrong!
I have applied for a Winston Churchill Memorial travel grant (UK only) and am currently shortlisted and about to undergo a final interview. If I am successful in my application and get the award i will be funded to travel for my project which is basically about comparing the activities and pastimes available to elderly people in care settings in the USA (New England), Hawaii and Japan.
I have to do a lot of preparation work for this and have organised what i will be doing in New England and Hawaii but am struggling with Japan! Mainly this is because I can't read Japanese!! I need some addresses of care homes (nursing homes) for the elderly in the Osaka and Kyoto districts. Then I can write to them to ask if I might visit them should my grant be awarded to me. Can anyone help?
I understand that the Itabashi Medical group operate many elderly care facilities in Japan, but again I can't translate their website. Also - I heard about a care home somewhere near or on the outskirts of Osaka (maybe Kourien?) where they were trying out voice activated teddy bears to help in the care of the residents. can anyone provide me with an address?
many thanks

 

[Kirirao]

From what I read on their website (if your Itabashi Medical is the same as mine) they don't have any facilities in Osaka nor Kyoto.
http://www.ims.gr.jp/contents/sub_03_2.html

 

[moonhare]

thanks

thanks for taking the time to reply. Any idea how I can find out about any homes for the elderly in those areas?

 

[Mike Cash]

I'm going to just such a facility tomorrow accompanying a local dance troupe who are going to entertain the old folks.

The sort of places you're looking for are easy enough to find, but lack of language ability is going to hobble you most severely.

 

[Kirirao]

Finding those place is like finding an apartment. no offence.

heres a few page
in osaka 大阪府の有料老人ホーム紹介センター 楽々人生
nearby The place you wanted to go http://www.oasisnavi.com/search/area/272108_1.html

Honestly I have no idea at all on how to find this kind of homes, and I don't know if this is what you wanted. So yeah....um... yea....

 

[moonhare]

Mike - really interested to hear about the dance troupe visiting the home. Where is this home?
Kirirao - thanks anyway for your info

 

[Mike Cash]

It is a government operated facility in eastern Gunma Prefecture. The old folks really enjoyed the dancing. We had a grand old time.

 

[moonhare]

Glad they all enjoyed the dancing. That's exactly the sort of thing i am interested in. I have had my final interview for the travel grant and have to wait till mid feb to see if i get it.

 

[Mike Cash]

Here is a link to some photos of the performance, if you're interested.

 

[moonhare]

Mike - fantastic photos! I bet the old folks had a wonderful time!

I'm going to show them to some of my folks over here