On the occasion of commemorating on the 20th Anniversary of the incorporation of Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization (not-for-profit), an International Symposium was held with the participation of the delegates from United States of America, Republic of Australia, Canada and Japan, focusing on the matter of how to cope with the issues of aging society as so-called Baby Boomer's generation become the family of the aging society. Both the developed and developing nations are facing with the challenge of a rapidly aging population and it is constructive in learning with each other on policy directions and some specific programs which are being planned for implementation to deal with care services for the elderly both at home and institutional facilities.

The symposium was hosted by Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization together with US Foundation for International Economic Policy and National Asian Pacific Center On Aging as co-hosting organizations. Co-Sponsorships included Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, US Embassy in Japan, Canadian Embassy in Japan, Australian Consulate(Nagoya), Aichi Prefecture Government, regional governmental entities of Nagoya City, Kasugai City, Konan City and Chunichi News Paper in Nagoya.

The symposium was held in the form of "Round-table Discussions: Baby Boomers Aging Society in the World" in the morning and "Panel Discussions: Baby Boomer's Aging in the World Challenges and Policies; how to cope with it" was held in the afternoon session. The morning session was participated by:

• Mr. Shuzou Tutsumi, Professor of Graduate School of Human Science, Osaka University. Prof. Tutsumi is the former Director General, Bureau of Welfare for the Elderly of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
• Mr. Junichi Gouda, Director, Housing Development Division, Housing Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Mr. Gouda is responsible for policies and programs for the infrastructure and housing for the elderly.
• Dr. Mike Rungie, CEO, ACH Group in Australia.
• Mrs. Vivien Lai, Senior Policy Advisor, Senior Manager, Policy Branch, Strategic Division, Canada Health and Wellness, the Government of Alberta, Canada.
• The Hon. Edwin Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Programs, US Department of Health and Human Services.
• Mr. Clayton S. Fong, President and CEO. Mr. Fong was a member of Policy Committee of the 2005 White House Conference On Aging, held in Washington D.C. in December, 2005.
• Dr. Akihiro Igata, President, Nagoya University of Arts and Science. Dr. Igata has been a leading member of the Commission of Social Security Policies of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and has been serving in many other important capacities on other Ministerial Commissions of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. He acted as the Moderator for the morning session.

The Panel Discussions entitled "Baby Boomer's Aging in the World Challenges and Policies; how to cope with it" were the highlights of the symposium being participated by the delegates (the higher echelon of the government of each country) from the United States of America, the Republic of Australia, the Government of Alberta in Canada and Japan. The delegates who represented for their countries are:

• The Hon. Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging, US Department of Health and Human Services
• Mr. Andrew Stuart, First Assistant Secretary, Ageing and Aged Care Division, Department of Health and Ageing
• Mr. Tom Mill, Executive Director, Alberta Health and Wellness (He represented as a Special Designated Representative for the Hon. Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness and Government House Leader of the government of Alberta, Canada)
• Mr. Kenichi Furuichi, Director, Promotion Division, Bureau of Welfare for the Elderly, Japan Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare
• Mr. Nobuaki Koide, Managing Director in charge of Editorial Affairs, Chunichi News Paper in Nagoya who acted as the Moderator for the session.

		Round-table Discussions: Baby Boomers Aging Society in the World
		Panel Discussions: Baby Boomer's Aging in the World Challenges and Policies; how to cope with it

Commemorating on the 20th Anniversary of the Incorporation of Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization(not-for-profit), a brief ceremony was conducted and attended by the delegation from the United State of America, Republic of Australia, Province of Alberta in Canada, Japan and many other invited guests both in the public and private sectors, at which time Dr. Teruhisa Mokno, CEO, Sun-Life Social & Welfare Organization was presented a letter of appreciation by Hon. Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging, US Department of Health and Human Services, for the outstanding contribution he has made for the advancement of quality care for the elderly and his contribution for the furtherance of international interactions on the issues of aging.

Mr. Clayton S. Fong, CEO and President, National Asian Pacific Center On Aging who was a leading member of the Policy Committee for the 2005 White House Conference On Aging, presented a letter of merits for the role Dr. Teruhisa Mokno has been playing to enhance quality care services as one of the leading providers of care services in Japan and his contribution to the furtherance of international interactions on the issues of aging. Dr. Teruhisa was also given a letter of appreciation by the Hon. Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness, government of Alberta. He received a precious memorial picture of the President, the late John F. Kennedy and his brother, the Robert Kennedy pictured together at the Democratic Convention for his presidential nomination by the Democrats in Los Angles in California, which was presented by Dr. Steven Stargardter, President of John F. Kenney University in California and Dr. Don, Campbell, Prof and Executive Director for Dr. John B.Tsu Asian Pacific Institute of John F. Kennedy and the leader of the supporting professional group, Mrs. Judy Weitzner who has been playing a leading role to provide professional support for the Elder Workshop being hosted by John F. Kennedy University's Dr. John B. Tsu Asian Pacific Institute were there to present a letter of citation for Dr. Teruhisa Mokuno for his contribution to the enhancement of quality of care services for the elderly

Photos from the 20th Anniversary of Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization

Visit of the foreign delegation and the invited guests to the various facilities providing care services for the elderly being managed and operated by Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization, highlighted one of the pre-activities for the delegation to have some in-depth and first-hand look as to how the various type of care services are being provided under Japan's Long-Term Care Insurance System.

Hon, Assistant Secretary, Josefina G. Carbonell, US. Department of Health and Human Services, her Deputy Assistant Under Secretary, Edwin Walker, Mr. Clayton S. Fong, CEO and President, Asian Pacific Center On Aging, the Assistant Secretary's Staff and the invited guests from the foreign countries visited a few facilities during which time they mingled with the elderly residing there and compared how care services is being managed and operated under Japan's Long-term Care Insurance System with that of their countries.

		Photos from the visit of the delegation to Kagamihara, Chikusa
		Floor Plan in PDF (1st Floor)
		Floor Plans in PDF (10th Floor)

Hon. Assistant Secretary，Josefina G. Carbonell, her Deputy Assistant Under Secretary, .Mr.. Edwin Walker, Mr. Clayton S. Fong, CEO and President and the staff, American Embassy staff and the writer visited Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to have a meeting with Mr. Sinji Asanuma, Director General, Bureau of Health and Welfare for the Elderly of Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, during which time they shared the latest policies and programs of each country on the implementation of policies and programs to cope with the newly emerging issues in the aging society. The following is the minutes of the meeting between Hon Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging, US. Department of Health, Labor and Human Services and Mr. Shinji Asanuma, Director General, Bureau of Health and Welfare for the Elderly, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare at the office of Mr. Asanuma.

		Photos from the meeting with Mr. Asanuma
		Summarized minutes of the meeting with Mr. Asanuma in PDF

Observations and Comments:

The International Symposium participated by the delegates from the governments of the United States, Republic of Australia, Province of Alberta and Japan was very timely in the wake of the entry of Baby Boomers generation into the rapidly accelerating aging society, the emerging issues of which are difficult to predict at this point of the time. However, the delegates representing their countries expressed unanimously the necessity of developing more appropriate and flexible policies and programs based on the in-depth researches to be conducted and to develop the programs to meet the needs of the newly emerging issues in the ear of Baby Boomer's aging society.

Although the system of each country is different due to its political philosophy, governmental system, cultural and historical heritages, the delegates from the participating countries presented their own unique policies and programs which were shared among the delegates and the audiences. It was emphasized that the symposium was held in very timely manner as each nation is taking steps to develop more comprehensive measures to deal with the issues of Baby Boomer's aging society. It is so important that we must aware of the fact the issues of aging is no longer the issues of one nation but also that of the whole world. Written and edited by Yusuke Kataoka together with Dr. Teruhisa Mokuno , CEO of Sun Life Social & Welfare Organization with supports of the parties involved including MHLW, MLIT, American Embassy in Japan, Canadian Embassy in Japan, Consulate General Office of Australia in Nagoya, the Office of the government of Alberta and staff of Sun-Life Social & Welfare Organization and National Asian Pacific Center On Aging together with US Foundation for International Economic Policy. We would like to acknowledge of the enormous assistances and supports provided by Ms. Marla Bush who is International Coordinator of AoA, together with Mr. Clayton S. Fong, CEO and President, National Asian Pacific Center On Aging.

+ Note: The summary of the story of the symposium was written and edited based on the materials provided by the delegates, the contents of delivery of the delegates speaking and remarks which were translated by interpreters The notes on the presentation speaking notes were compared and the re-written speaking notes which have been submitted to at late date in order to ensure that the materials provided by each delegate is clearly understood. It also included some comments by the audiences upon hearing the remarks by the delegates at the sessions.