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In a bid to improve the health and well-being of older people, Toyota has launched an exciting new initiative: the Nukumaru. This project, currently being tested in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, transforms a HiAce vehicle into a mist sauna.
The Nukumaru has been designed to assist elderly residents with bathing, a task that can be physically demanding for caregivers. The trials in Iiyama City, which saw around 80 residents participate, were successful, although specific outcomes were not detailed.
The mist sauna inside the Nukumaru offers numerous benefits. It uses approximately two liters of water per person, significantly reducing the burden on caregivers compared to a traditional bath. Moreover, it eliminates the risk of drowning, a concern that is unfortunately more prevalent than traffic fatalities among older people, with an annual figure of 4,750 deaths due to bathtub accidents.
Risa Asami, who works at Toyota's Advanced Mobility System Development Division, confirmed that the mist sauna inside the Nukumaru warms the body effectively. A man in his seventies also shared that he found the mist sauna comfortable at around 42°C.
City hall staff played a significant role in the success of the Nukumaru trials in Iiyama City. The city joined the trials as a way to expand service options for its residents. Shoma Kawaraguchi of Toyota's Advanced Mobility System Development Division proposed the idea for the Nukumaru.
Iiyama City was selected for the trials due to its interest and cooperation. Interestingly, before the trials, the city had very few mobile bathing vehicles. The successful implementation of the Nukumaru in Iiyama City could pave the way for similar initiatives in other cities.
While specific details about the trial's methodology and outcomes are not available, the general aim of the trial was likely to assess how the mist sauna could support elderly people's physical and mental health, potentially improving circulation, skin condition, respiratory function, and relaxation.
For more detailed and official information about Toyota's mist sauna initiative and the Iiyama City trial, it may be best to consult Toyota’s official communications or press releases related to health and wellness initiatives targeting elderly populations.
- Toyota's Advanced Mobility System Development Division has integrated science and technology to develop the Nukumaru, a project testing in Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture, aiming to improve the lifestyle of the elderly by addressing health-and-wellness issues associated with aging, such as bathing difficulties.
- The mist sauna within the Nukumaru offers several advantages over traditional bathing methods, including reduced water consumption, elimination of drowning risks, and providing a comfortable environment for the elderly, promoting health and well-being.
- The lifesaving potential of the Nukumaru, particularly in reducing bathtub accidents among older people, demonstrates the intersection of science, technology, and health-and-wellness, proving a significant contribution to cars and overall lifestyle improvements for senior citizens.
