In Japan, the aging population is expected to increase the number of elderly people in the future. The purpose of this study was to develop a hip lift transfer assistive system to improve the QOL of elderly living and to prevent back pain for caregivers. We extracted the impediment factor and the necessary scene for the assistance, decided on the transfer process from the wheelchair in the toilet, and considered the reduction method of the burden based on the quantitative evaluation of the caregiver’s lumbar burden and developed the device. Then we proposed the algorithm of the system by grasping the behavior and lumbar burden characteristics at the time of using the hip lift transfer assistive system by the developed device in which the proposed support algorithm of standing seating assistance operation is implemented in the actual use environment. Through the assistive movement evaluation experiment and the actual operation in the toilet, we have verified that the use of this device can reduce the caregivers’ lumbar burden below the standard value (3400 N) and have proved the effectiveness of the proposed transfer assistive system.

The economic depression accompanied by COVID-19 pandemic has also had some adverse effects on people's mental health. 4 in 10 adults have symptoms of anxiety and depression, and these symptoms may continue to increase. In particular, the reported rate of mental health disorders among adolescents is as high as 56.2%. Recently, pet ownership has become widely accepted as a means of improving mental health. However, due to various reasons, the separation of owners and pets has also increased significantly. Therefore, we have developed a portable simulated pet "KEDAMA", which can be used in place of real pets, and can be customized with fur and sound. The price is relatively cheap and can be ordered easily. We conducted a statistical analysis on 20 users, and the results show that the "KEDAMA" has a positive effect on users' mental health.

With the aging society in Japan, the number of elderly people residing in elderly facilities is increasing. In previous study, we developed a transfer assistive device designed to aid the elderly in transferring from the bedroom to the bathroom. Additionally, the device assists the elderly with standing and sitting to facilitate independent toileting activities. We verified that, throughout the entire transfer movement, the lumbar burden on caregivers remained below 3400 N. In this study, based on quantitative evaluation indices of transfer movements, the relationship between the lumbar burden on caregivers and factors such as psychological anxiety or cognitive impairment in the elderly during the use of a transfer assistive device was elucidated through motion analysis. We developed a control algorithm for the human–machine collaborative transfer system with the aim of alleviating the strain on the caregiver’s lower back while ensuring the elderly can use the device with peace of mind. The practicality of the control algorithm was verified.