Silver College of Kobe City: “Study, Again to Serve the Others”

Abstract

As one of the super-aged countries, Japan is facing serious social and economic implications of the rapidly increasing elderly population while the working population is decreasing. This has created tremendous burden not only on the Government of Japan but also on the local administrative units like Kobe City to provide adequate health and social welfare programme support to the elderly. Thus, this study examines the birth and the programme of the Silver College as a key component of the general support system for the elderly of Kobe City initially within the context of its overall economic development process in the 1980s–1990s. It also attempts to assess its contribution to the local communities. The qualitative research approach was employed through interviews with the founders and managers of the Silver College in Kobe City to help better understand the longitudinal and complex reality of its issues and contribution to the ageing society in the City of Kobe. Personal observations of the classes and activities of the Silver College students outside the Silver College and reviews of documents published about the Silver College helped to further understand its meaningful relationship between the students and their local communities, hence adhering to the naturalistic paradigm. The results revealed that the key critical successful factor of Kobe City elderly care system is through its unique community-related reciprocal support system, which is organised and operated with the primary aim of helping the elderly continue to live with acceptable healthy living conditions, not only physically but also mentally so as to contribute to improving their quality of life at the community level. While challenges can be increasing, the study found that the social welfare programme of the City of Kobe especially with its Silver College would continue to help the increasing number of the elderly citizens to lead a healthier life and to increase their contribution to their respective communities in the foreseeable future.