#Japan #Oita #Sakura Juji #Let’s #Akeno Acros Town

Let’s! Launches in Akeno Acros Town, Oita

On November 1, 2025, the Sakura Juji Group will unveil a new location of their home care service 'Let’s!' in Akeno Acros Town, a multifaceted shopping and commercial establishment in Oita City, Japan. This facility will harmonize various services, including home medical consultations, outpatient therapies focusing on weight loss and anti-aging, day care, home-visit nursing, and care management. The goal is to provide comprehensive medical and caregiving services for the community, particularly addressing the increasing healthcare needs of an aging population.

The Context of Let’s! Expansion in Oita

Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population

Japan's population is aging rapidly, with projections indicating that by 2040, nearly one in three citizens will be over 65 years old. In Oita City, this trend is evident, with the current aging rate at approximately 28.4%. Experts predict that by 2050, this could rise to around 36-37%. Such demographic shifts inevitably lead to heightened demand for home care services, which is compounded by increasing medical and caregiving costs.

Current Healthcare Challenges in Oita City

As Oita City grapples with population aging, several significant challenges in the medical and caregiving system are apparent:

• - Shortage of Caregivers: The entire nation faces difficulties in securing skilled nursing professionals, with Oita Prefecture projected to have a shortage of about 1,200 caregivers in the near future.
• - Difficulties in Securing Specialists: Especially in suburban areas, attracting specialized medical professionals remains a challenge.
• - Home Patient Deterioration: With decreasing hospital beds, more patients are experiencing health deterioration while receiving at-home care.

The existing operations of 'Let’s!'—comprising four rehabilitation centers and one each of nursing and care management—highlight the need for interdepartmental collaboration, which has not been fully realized yet. With the new establishment of 'Let’s!', the organization aims to enhance seamless support from recovery stages to end-of-life care.

A New Model of Community Care

Concept: Connecting Home, Town, and Self

Let’s! aspires to create a familiar environment that integrates the essence of home, interpersonal connections, and personal health. Here’s what to expect:

• - Home (いえ): Support for living comfortably at home with tailored caregiving services. The integration of various home health services at one hub allows residents to receive all necessary care effortlessly.
• - Town (まち): By situating at Akeno Acros Town, 'Let’s!' becomes part of the daily life of Oita residents—meaning residents can easily access care services during their shopping trips, thus removing barriers between healthcare and daily activities.
• - Self (じぶん): Focused on enhancing personal well-being, 'Let’s!' promotes health through awareness and preventive activities, encouraging individuals to take an active interest in their health.

The Services Offered at Let’s!

1. One-Stop Home Medical Care: Services like home medical consultations (Let’s Clinic!), nursing (Let’s Nurse!), outpatient rehabilitation (Let’s Reha!), and care management (Let’s Care Plan!) all available from a single location.
2. NST Specialized Teams: Our teams include experts in swallowing and dietary rehabilitation, utilizing cutting-edge tools to prevent problems like aspiration pneumonia, a common cause of mortality in older adults. For instance, we're introducing the latest oral care devices in Oita to enhance our rehabilitation services.
3. Support After Hospital Discharge: We offer coordinated care from medical professionals during the critical period right after discharge to ease families' anxieties regarding home recuperation.

Engaging the Community

Let’s! aims not just to facilitate health services but also to foster community interaction. Located within a bustling shopping area, our facility will offer:

• - Care Accessibility: Residents can combine their shopping schedules with visiting Let’s!, thus reducing the hassle of appointments.
• - Consultation Hub: A dedicated counseling space will be available within the mall, promoting health events in collaboration with local businesses.
• - Coco no Ha Café: A welcoming café environment where visitors can relax and engage in health-promoting discussions.

Vision for the Future

Moving forward, Let’s! in Oita will expand beyond supporting those with illnesses or disabilities; we will embrace anti-aging practices and preventive medical approaches to promote individual well-being. Our aim is to launch more facilities throughout Oita Prefecture, working toward a society where everyone can enjoy healthier and more fulfilling lives.

Opening Event Announcement

To celebrate our opening, we invite the community to participate in tours, fitness assessments, and medical consultations from October 20 to 31. Special events, including skin quality assessments and vascular age measurements, will also be available in partnership with Sumitomo Life. We welcome everyone to come and explore what Let’s! has to offer.

For more information and updates, visit our website Let’s! Akeno Acros Town.