We are delighted to announce the winners of the 2024 Healthy Aging Prize for Asian Innovation, an award that recognizes organizations in Asia that are pioneering innovative approaches to supporting older people. The award is an initiative of JCIE and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) as part of our work to promote cooperation and information-sharing on the important challenges posed by population aging, which is carried out under the auspices of the Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative (AHWIN).
This year marked the fourth round of the award and it was the most competitive yet, with a high number of impressive applications received from across 12 countries or regions in East and Southeast Asia. From among these, ten organizations were recognized for their innovative work in the field of aging.
Selections were made by an international committee of seven experts from throughout the region. Grand Prize and Second Prize winners were selected in the three categories of Technology & Innovation, Community-Based Initiatives, and Supporting Self-Reliance. In addition, this year the committee awarded a 2024 Special Prize for Care Network Development. Three Honorable Mentions were awarded as well.
The Grand Prize and Special Prize winners will receive their awards in January 2025, at a special ceremony to be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
You can learn more about all of the prize winners on the AHWIN website.
2024 Grand Prize Winners
Technology & Innovation
Nurse & Craft | Japan
Home Nursing to Regenerate the Town
Nurse and Craft set up a home-visit nursing station on a remote island as a way to provide medical treatment and care, but also to revitalize the area. Through their presence, the nurses are able to assist residents through the use of telemedicine and IoT healthcare services, hold health classes to improve medical and digital literacy, and create opportunities for social interaction through monthly community lunches.
Community-Based Initiatives
Padyarescue Inc. | Philippines
Go Bike Project—Ronda Kalusugan Program
The Go Bike Project trains and empowers young people to conduct regular health monitoring for older residents in their community, checking blood pressure and blood sugar levels. The volunteers are equipped with bicycles, first-aid kits, medicine, and other items that let them provide basic healthcare services, take action when medical care is needed, and share knowledge on disaster preparedness and mitigation.
Supporting Self-Reliance
School of Lifelong Education, Chiang Mai University | Thailand
MEDEE—Fostering Work Skills for Seniors in the Digital Era
MEDEE uses online and in-person courses to create a lifelong learning ecosystem where older people can develop job skills for the digital era. Seniors can learn how to use technology, create an online business, livestream, and many other business skills. It also teaches them about financial management as well as physical and mental health so that they can live a fulfilling life as they age.
2024 Special Prize for Care Network Development
Institute for Community Care and Health Equity, Chung-Ang University; Summary A.I.; and Jeongeup City Public Health Center | South Korea
CARE-Net—A Smart Integrated Care Approach to Reach Older People in a Depopulated Area
Chung-Ang University has worked with the city of Jeongeup, which has been facing depopulation, to develop a smart integrated care system, CARE-Net, that connects health, welfare, long-term care services, and medical care, allowing inter-agency data-sharing and communication. The network is supplemented by village care managers (citizen health leaders) who are trained to help their neighbors navigate the system.
2024 Second Prize Winners
Technology & Innovation
Lions Befrienders Service Association | Singapore
IM-OK
Community-Based Initiatives
Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities, Agency for Integrated Care | Singapore
Micro-Jobs Program for Older People
Supporting Self-Reliance
Graduate School of Medicine, Tokushima University; Beauty Life Corp. | Japan
Online Exercise Salon for Older People through Industry-Academia Collaboration
