New Delhi [India], August 11: Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans’ Welfare Society +(SHEOWS), a non-profit dedicated to the care of abandoned and destitute elderly since 1994, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Tokyo with Juntendo University, one of Japan’s oldest medical universities, founded in 1838. The MoU marks a new chapter in India-Japan collaboration on geriatric care, research, and academic exchange.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Saurabh Bhagat, CEO of SHEOWS, and Dr. Yuasa Motoyuki, Chair of Department of Global Health Research, Juntendo University, with the collaboration facilitated by Dr. Myo Nyein Aung, MD, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor at Juntendo University.
Areas of Collaboration
- Research initiatives on dementia, Alzheimer’s, geriatric syndromes, and healthy ageing through Juntendo’s DIHAC research framework.
- Faculty and student research opportunities, including longitudinal studies and cognitive decline tracking, conducted through SHEOWS’ elderly care centres.
- Student volunteering in therapeutic activities, digital literacy, and cross-cultural engagement with elderly residents.
- Knowledge exchange and joint academic programmes in geriatric care education and capacity building.
- Technical and advisory support for SHEOWS’ upcoming Integrated Elder Care Home, Geriatric Hospital, and Research Centre — including clinical protocols, hospital planning, and staffing models.
Significance for India
India’s elderly population is projected to more than double in the coming decades. The partnership offers:
- Research access: Exposure to Juntendo’s DIHAC framework, strengthening dementia and Alzheimer’s evidence for Indian demographics.
- Capacity building: Academic exchange and training for Indian caregivers, medical staff, and researchers.
- A model to scale: Advisory support for SHEOWS’ Integrated Elder Care Home, Geriatric Hospital, and Research Centre — a model that could be replicated nationally.
- International credibility: A partnership with a 188-year-old, top-ranked Japanese university, potentially drawing further collaboration and investment to India’s elder care sector.
About SHEOWS
Saint Hardyal Educational and Orphans’ Welfare Society (SHEOWS) is a “home away from home” for India’s abandoned elderly. Registered under the Society Registration Act, 1860 and FCRA, 1976, SHEOWS has spent over three decades providing free shelter, food, medical care, and support to destitute and abandoned elderly individuals. It operates care centres in Delhi and Garhmukhteshwar, currently supporting 550+ elderly residents, and has supported more than 12,000 elderly individuals since inception.
About Juntendo University
Founded in 1838, Juntendo University is Japan’s oldest school of Western medical education and the country’s first private hospital. Its network today includes six affiliated hospitals and five campuses across Tokyo, Chiba, and Shizuoka, offering programs in medicine, health science, nursing, and international liberal arts. Juntendo is ranked No. 1 among private universities in Japan in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
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