Background: As Japan is the world’s fastest-aging society with a declining population, it is challenging to secure human resources for care providers. Therefore, the Japanese government is promoting digital transformation and the use of nursing care equipment, including nonwearable devices that monitor heart and respiratory rates. However, the feasibility of monitoring heart and respiratory rates with nonwearable devices and the consistency of the rates measured have not been reported. Objective: In this study, we focused on a sheet-type nonwearable device (Safety Sheep Sensor) introduced in many nursing homes. We evaluated the feasibility of monitoring heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) continuously using nonwearable devices and the consistency of the HR and RR measured. Methods: A sheet-type nonwearable device that measured HR and RR every minute through body vibrations was placed under the mattress of each participant. The participants in study 1 were healthy individuals aged 20‐60 years (n=21), while those in study 2 were older adults living in multidwelling houses and required nursing care (n=20). The HR was measured using standard methods by the nurse and using the wearable device (Silmee Bar-type Lite sensor), and RR was measured by the nurse. The primary outcome was the mean difference in HR and RR between nonwearable devices and standard methods. Results: The mean difference in HR was −0.32 (SD 3.12) in study 1 and 0.04 (SD: 3.98) in study 2; both the differences were within the predefined accepted discrepancies (<5 beats/min). The mean difference in RR was −0.98 (SD 3.01) in study 1 and −0.49 (SD 2.40) in study 2; both the differences were within the predefined accepted discrepancies (3 breaths/min). Conclusions: HR and RR measurements obtained using the nonwearable devices and the standard method were similar. Continuous monitoring of vital signs using nonwearable devices can aid in the early detection of abnormal conditions in older people.

Physical function trajectory (PFT) is associated with mortality and hospitalization risks. We aimed to identify and compare the PFTs of newly admitted high-functioning older adults during their first six months at long-term care (LTC) facilities. In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, we included newly admitted high-functioning older adults (Barthel index > 60) from 47 Japanese LTC facilities. The primary outcome was physical function changes after admission. Data were collected from the Long-Term Care Information System for Evidence (LIFE), which monitored LTC facility residents’ function between 1 January 2021 and 31 January 2022. A group-based trajectory model and binomial logistic regression analyses were applied to identify and compare residents’ PFTs. Among the 718 residents included, the average age was 85.69 years and 64.5% were female. PFTs were classified as maintenance (66.0%), improvement (9.5%), slight decline (16.6%), and large decline (7.9%). The improvement group had significantly fewer residents who expressed a lack of interest in daily activities (odds ratio (OR) 0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.97) compared to the maintenance group. The large decline group had significantly more residents with a low BMI at admission (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.29–4.55) and residents who did not use dentures (OR 0.49; 95% CI 0.26–0.95), compared to the maintenance group. Considering future PFTs may aid the development of care plans and the provision of appropriate interventions. Moreover, utilizing existing data has the potential to maintain residents’ physical independence and enhance the quality of care without burdening residents themselves or staff.

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Aim: To examine whether social contact frequency is differentially associated with poor mental health by interaction partner and contact mode among older adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed the 2024 Japan COVID‐19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS; December 2024–January 2025). All respondents aged ≥ 65 years in the analysis‐ready dataset were included; no analytic variables had missing values. Poor mental health was defined as ≥ 1 versus 0 poor mental health days in the past 30 days (CDC Healthy Days item). Eight past‐month partner–mode exposures (family or friends by in‐person, phone, email/messages, or video call) were categorized as none, 1–3 times/month, or ≥ 1 time/week. Logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for demographic, health, lifestyle, physical activity, employment, education, and household income. False discovery rate control was applied across 16 prespecified contrasts. Results: Among 6786 older adults (mean age 72.7 years; 50.4% men), 11.8% reported ≥ 1 poor mental health day. In fully adjusted models, more frequent in‐person contact was associated with lower odds of poor mental health for friends/acquaintances (vs none: 1–3/month OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.59–0.84; ≥ 1/week 0.59, 0.48–0.73) and non‐cohabiting family/relatives (0.84, 0.71–0.99; 0.71, 0.57–0.89). Remote modes were not clearly associated. After multiplicity control, weekly in‐person family contact and both friend in‐person frequencies remained significant. Conclusions: Frequent in‐person contact, especially with friends, was associated with lower odds of poor mental health, whereas most remote modes were not, even after adjustment for education and household income.