Function Integrated System Index (FI) and User Evaluation Index (UI) ware devised so as to investigate the influence of the expandability of the health care and residence function unit integrated system on a user. The eight integrated system centers in Germany and Scandinavia ware visited and investigated. The development degree and the features of the integrated system ware able to be captured clearly by analysis of FI, even when the policies of each country, the name of an integrated system center, and the combination of functional units etc. ware different. Furthermore, the influence of the integrated system center on a user is found out by the analysis of UI. The comparison analysis of FI and UI reveals that user satisfaction rises when a development degree of the integrated system increases. Consequently, this paper suggests that the integrated system with a high development degree should be promoted in Japan because it is able to meet needs of the aged society.

View full abstract

This study aims to evaluate the degree of physical burden required for descending a vertical slope using existing slope gradients in a self-propelled wheelchair. Evaluation was performed using sensory evaluation, motion electromyogram testing, and measurement of operating speed. Subjects were healthy university students and examined using an outdoor wooden test slope (with differing gradients set at angles of 1/24, 1/21, 1/18, 1/15, 1/12, 1/9, and 1/7) on a staircase with a vertical distance of 750 mm. Using a standard wheelchair, subjects were evaluated in using a wheelchair with both hands and one handed and one legged operation. We obtained the following results. 1) No problems were detected among subjects using wheelchairs on gradients such as 1/24, 1/21, and 1/18 that are close to the 1/20 standard gradient prescribed in Japan's new Barrier Free Law, when subjected to sensory evaluation, motion electromyogram testing, and measurement of operating speed. 2) For gradients of 1/12 to 1/15 that are generally employed in public buildings in Japan, we found that from sensory evaluation of subjects on the 1/15 gradient, 85.7% of subjects using both hands and 75.0% of subjects using one handed and one legged operation of the wheelchair responded that movement was "easy" on this gradient. In contrast, for the 1/12 gradient, 57.1% of subjects using both hands and 83.3% of subjects using one handed and one legged operation of the wheelchair said that operation was "quite tough." For subjects using one handed and one legged operation of the wheelchair, in particular, use of the quadriceps had a higher muscle activity rate for the 1/15 gradient than for the 1/12 gradient. Measurement of operating speed revealed slower speeds for subjects on the 1/12 gradient compared to the 1/15 slope. Taken together, these results suggest that the 1/12 gradient standard places an excessive burden on wheelchair users. 3) In examining gradients of 1/9 and 1/7, which are close to the gradient standard of 1/8 stipulated by Japan's Building Standards Law, sensory evaluation, motion electromyogram testing, and measurement of operating speed all indicated that using a wheelchair to descend these slopes was relatively hard for all subjects. Based on these findings, we believe that in situations in which there is no choice but to install a steep gradient slope, such as in conditions for house adaptation, then it is essential to carefully examine the effects of these on wheelchair users' degree of physical burden and safety.

View full abstract