"Virtual Dog" Brings Smiles to Nursing Facilities: Japan's First MR Animal Therapy Certified as "Care Technology" for Dementia Care Support

Users enjoying interactions with a virtual dog while wearing VR goggles at a nursing care facility (left side of the photo). Even those not experiencing it directly (right side of the photo) can enjoy watching the images inside the VR goggles on a large monitor. Remedy & Company Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Tetsushu Ukita, hereinafter "our company") announces that our company's domestic first*[1] MR (Mixed Reality) animal therapy "Itsudemo Wanchan" (Virtual Dog) has been certified as a product falling under "Care Technology" (Dementia Daily Life Support / Dementia Care Support field) in the "Welfare Equipment Information System (TAIS)" operated by the Association for Technical Aids. This certification was made based on the "Priority Areas for the Use of Care Technology" stipulated by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. As a result, our product was evaluated as a care technology that supports independent daily life and individual care tailored to each user for elderly people with cognitive decline, and the Association for Technical Aids, which undertakes related projects of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, determined that it falls under this field. With this certification, "Itsudemo Wanchan" will, in principle, become eligible for subsidies*[2] under the "Care Technology Introduction Support Project" led by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and it is expected to reduce the financial burden on care providers when introducing the product and expand the options for utilizing technology according to the situation on site. While "mental care" for the elderly is pointed out as a social issue, "Itsudemo Wanchan" is a product born from the desire to make "connections with people" and "emotional engagement" in welfare and nursing care settings feel freer and more accessible in daily life. We have been developing the product while focusing on experiences that generate positive feelings and a sense of security in daily life, and facing the voices of the front lines. Going forward, our company will continue to stay close to the voices of the welfare and nursing care front lines, and contribute to solving issues faced by society and nursing care sites, as well as improving the quality of life of users through the utilization of technology. [1] *Domestic first: According to our research (Self-research as of May 2024 for "animal therapy utilizing XR technology" in Japan) [2] *Eligible for subsidy: Whether an actual subsidy is granted and its conditions are based on the judgment of each prefecture. What is the Welfare Equipment Information System (TAIS)? TAIS is a nationwide database aggregating information on welfare equipment operated by the Association for Technical Aids, where corporate information and product specifications are systematically disclosed. A "TAIS Code," which serves as a unique management number, is issued to each product, acting as an important indicator when welfare/nursing care providers and care managers nationwide compare and consider products based on objective information. Product Name: Itsudemo Wanchan TAIS Code: 02318 - 000001 Classification Code: [1] 214290: Communication equipment [2] 214224: Conversation software Care Technology: Dementia daily life support, Dementia care support Details page: https://www.techno-aids.or.jp/ServiceWelfareGoodsDetail.php?RowNo=0&YouguCode1=02318&YouguCode2=000001 What are the Priority Areas for the Use of Care Technology? This is a framework that the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have formulated and repeatedly revised since 2012, aiming to improve the quality of care services utilizing technologies such as nursing care robots and ICT, reduce the burden on care staff, and support the independence of the elderly. Based on the needs of nursing care sites and technological trends, these priority areas are positioned as criteria for judging the fields and functions that should be prioritized when promoting the development and introduction of care technology. Itsudemo Wanchan Development Story 1. Background of development - The increase in the senior generation expanding digital utilization, and the issue of "mental care" for the elderly After the COVID-19 pandemic, digital utilization among the senior generation has expanded rapidly. According to a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2023), more than 85% of people in their 60s use the Internet, and that percentage is increasing year by year. In the future when these "digital seniors" shift into their 70s and 80s, we believe an era will come when experiences and recreation utilizing the latest technology will be demanded as a "standard option" in nursing care settings as well. Additionally,