Body Builder Care Workers Japan, AgeTech for Aging in Place, Bone Health and GLP1s 5-26-26
We admired a creative solution to Japan’s nursing home crisis with the recruitment of bodybuilders, MMA fighters, and sumo wrestlers as caregivers. Ginger Griggs joined us from Japan with a New York Times article detailing how these athletes, despite being a small portion of the workforce, can positively impact care centers. We expressed hope that publicity of this idea might bring athletic men into caregiving, especially as AI impacts various job categories.
Elizabeth Magallon Fleury brought us an article on the benefits of AgeTech in enabling older adults to age in place, mentioning Laurie Orlov’s reports, the National Council on Aging and the benefits of Intuition Robotics’ ElliQ and Innovation Aging’s Joy For All robotic pet companions.
For our last News for the Ages show in May honoring Osteoporosis Awareness Month, Ellen Khalifa who is a peer educator for the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation as well as a trained GLP-1 nutrition coach for Thrive Global, reported on a study that looked at long term effects of GLP-1s on bone density, reminding us of the importance of maintaining muscle mass for GLP-1 users.
Co-hosts Linda Sherman and Ray Gordon provided commentary.
Presented by Ginger Griggs, VP Excellence at Work (EAW) – reporting from Japan
NY Times 4-25-26 Body Builder Care Workers in Japan by Javier C. Hernández Tokyo Bureau Chief and Hisako Ueno.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/25/world/asia/japan-care-workers-bodybuilders-sumo-mma.html
Note the word “facility” gets mentioned often in the article. While we try to avoid it on our show, please keep in mind that this sensitivity is quite uniquely American. We’ve found that in the UK and now in Japan, they are surprised that there is any negativity associated with it.
Visionary, one of several Japanese companies that targets athletes with the hope of channeling their strength and stamina into caregiving roles. Yusuke Niwa, 41, Visionary’s chief executive, now employs more than 30 bodybuilders who work shifts at 25 facilities.
Related
Visionary website
Tokyo Weekender 10-23-25 more about Visionary company
Mainichi 3-26-26 article more about Visionary company
Nagoya-based Visionary Inc., a company providing disability welfare services, boasts a rare feature for a Japanese company: a bodybuilding corporate team.
Out of 340 caregiving staff, about 20 are macho caregivers. From these, seven members are selected for their work attitude and “personality that garners support from those around them” to form the company’s “7SeaS” fitness team.
Presented by Elizabeth Magallon Fleury, CAPS, Life’s Encore Planning
NY Times 4-22-26 How AgeTech Might Help You Grow Old at Home by Susan Shain
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/business/seniors-home-care-tech.html
Posted May 22 by Dhaval Patel CEO at Lotus with graphic stating 4% – that’s the share of US homes accessible to someone with moderate mobility needs.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dhaval-c-patel_lotusring-design-accessibility-share-7463691030786252801-KARv/
We talked about Laurie Orlov’s Aging and Technology Watch.
Presented by Ellen Khalifa, Habits Coach for Healthspan and Wellspan
MedicalNewsToday 3-6-26 New Studies GLP-1s and Bone Density by Corrie Pelc Fact Checked by Jill Seladi-Schulman Ph.D
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/glp-1s-osteoporosis-bone-health#Why-might-GLP-1-use-cause-higher-osteoporosis-ris
Vocabulary: osteomalacia (sounds like Malaysia). A study reports that GLP-1 use may be associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, gout, and osteomalacia, which is bone softening, in people with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
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Nickie’s Tune written and performed by Richard Sherman
