Summer Special Program: Elementary Students Experience Caregiving! Interacting with Seniors to Learn About “Supporting Others”

Aishikan Group will host a summer special program titled 'Care Job Experience' on Tuesday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for fifth-grade students from Habinaka Municipal Hishin Elementary School and sixth-grade students from Habinaka Municipal Washizuka Elementary School who wish to participate.

On the day, children will visit care facilities to engage in intergenerational interaction, experience wheelchair assistance and walking support, and try out caregiving equipment. Media are welcome to cover how children experience 'supporting others' in caregiving settings—environments they rarely enter in daily life.

In recent years, due to nuclear family trends and other factors, children have fewer opportunities to interact with seniors in everyday life. Additionally, while medical, caregiving, and welfare jobs are essential to society, children often lack exposure to these professions.

That is why it is meaningful for children, at an age when they begin thinking about their future careers, to interact with seniors in real caregiving environments, observe staff work, and gain hands-on experience.

(According to a survey by Benesse Educational Research Institute, 59.5% of elementary fifth-graders who expressed interest in 'medical, nursing, and health professions' still desired the same career category by their second year of high school.)

This initiative aims to transform caregiving from an 'unknown job' into a 'familiar job.' Through interaction with seniors, we hope to provide children with opportunities to feel the warmth of human connection and understand the importance of supporting others’ lives.

【Key Highlights 📣】

👴 Intergenerational interaction between children and seniors

Media can cover children talking with seniors and enjoying recreational activities together. A heartwarming highlight is watching them gradually relax and interact naturally, despite initial nervousness.

♿ Experiencing caregiving work such as wheelchair assistance and walking support

Children will experience wheelchair assistance and walking support, learning that caregiving is a professional job that supports each individual’s daily life. You can capture scenes where children not only 'observe' but also 'try' caregiving work.

🍀 Introducing caregiving as a future career option

Medical, caregiving, and welfare fields remain distant for children. This program aims to help them feel that 'supporting others' is a familiar and accessible career path by interacting with staff working in actual facilities.

【Event Overview 📝】

■ July 21, 2026 (Tuesday)

Time: 10:00 – 11:30 (Dismissal at 12:00)

Location: Himawari Elderly Health Service Facility (1-7-1, Sankaku-cho, Habinaka City)

Himawari Special Nursing Home for the Elderly (4-109-1, Washiba-cho, Habinaka City), and others

Participants: Fifth-grade students from Hishin Elementary School who wish to join

■ July 22, 2026 (Wednesday)

Time: 10:00 – 11:30 (Dismissal at 12:00)

Location: Himawari Elderly Health Service Facility (1-7-1, Sankaku-cho, Habinaka City)

Himawari Special Nursing Home for the Elderly (4-109-1, Washiba-cho, Habinaka City), and others

Participants: Sixth-grade students from Washizuka Elementary School who wish to join

※ Previous year’s participation: 10 students from Hishin Elementary and 17 from Washizuka Elementary, totaling 27

【Schedule on the Day 🏫】

10:00 Orientation

10:15 Interaction with seniors, recreational activities, etc.

11:00 Wheelchair assistance, walking support, caregiving equipment experience, etc.

11:30 Reflection session, questionnaire, certificate presentation

12:00 Dismissal

※ The schedule and experience content may vary slightly depending on the facility.

【Media Coverage 📷】

We have obtained prior consent for media coverage from the schools and students’ parents.

If you wish to cover the event, please contact the designated representative in advance.

On the day, interviews with coordinators and facility staff will be possible.

Interviews with children and seniors will be arranged based on the day’s circumstances.

【Voices from Last Year’s Participants 👧】

Feedback was received regarding caregiving work and interactions with seniors:

"I was a bit nervous talking with elderly people, but I was happy they spoke to me with smiles."

"Caregiving work seems tough, but I think it’s a job that helps people."

"I learned that when pushing a wheelchair, it’s important to move slowly while thinking about the other person."