Benesse Style Care's Achievement in Enhancing Elderly Home Operations and Retention Rates

Recently, at the 27th Japan Dementia Care Conference held at the Tokyo International Forum from June 6 to 7, 2026, Benesse Style Care’s research team, the Benesse Senior and Care Research Institute, was awarded the prestigious Ishizaka Award. This award recognizes outstanding presentations at the conference, with evaluation criteria focusing on objectives, methodologies, results, presentation quality, originality, and the potential for further development. Out of 303 presentations, 17 received this esteemed award.

Overview of the Presentation

The winning presentation was titled “Visualizing Operational Status of Paid Elderly Homes through Home Operations Assessment and its Impact on Employee Retention Rates.” The presenters, Ryouko Fukuda, Fumio Harada, and Masayoshi Ashizawa, discussed their findings based on the systematic evaluations performed within their elderly homes.

At Benesse Style Care, staff conduct regular assessments of their own facility’s operational conditions through the “Home Operations Assessment.” The team aimed to verify whether this visualization of operational status contributes to improvements in management indicators, particularly in employee retention.

Utilizing data collected in April 2024 and April 2025, the researchers analyzed scores from the Home Operations Assessment against management indicators from the fiscal years 2023 and 2024. They found that in groups where the assessment scores improved, the average retention rates also showed a positive trend. Conversely, in groups where scores remained unchanged or declined, a downward trend in retention rates was observed, indicating a significant difference between the groups (p<0.01).

Details of the Home Operations Assessment

Purpose

The Home Operations Assessment aims to make the operational status of each home visible. This transparency promotes awareness of issues and facilitates improvements by encouraging dialogue among staff.

Participants

The assessment is geared towards employees involved in the management of the respective homes within the company.

Timing

The assessments are conducted biannually, around April and October, to allow for reflection on performance over each half of the year.

Methodology

The assessment involves surveys and reviews of management indicators to provide a comprehensive view of each home’s operations.

The correlation observed between the subjective assessment score and objective retention rates underscores the importance of visualizing operational status. As the elder care sector faces increasing challenges in securing qualified personnel, this research illustrates that self-evaluation and commitment to operational improvements may lead to better retention rates. This outcome not only supports stable management of elderly care services but also potentially enhances employee satisfaction and performance.

Benesse Style Care's recognition at this conference is part of a broader effort. This win marks the fourth recognition for the Benesse Senior and Care Research Institute, following a previous award for their work on the unique needs of care providers working with dementia patients.

Benesse Style Care is committed to advancing its philosophy of deeply supporting individuality and embracing continuous research to validate and communicate the effects of their initiatives.

Conclusion

Going forward, Benesse Style Care aims to further its mission to foster a world where individuals can live fulfilling lives, even amidst the challenges posed by an aging society. This involves not only promoting sustainable elder care but also addressing various social issues through innovative programs in elder nutrition, human resources, child-rearing support, and more. The organization pledges to continue pursuing solutions that enhance quality of life for both care recipients and providers.

For more information, visit the Benesse Style Care Group website.