Although I was hired as a care manager at this small-scale multi-functional long-term care facility, my main role was essentially that of a care worker, particularly assisting clients with bathing. What surprised me was that several of the care workers there were themselves elderly, some over 70 years old. One of them was a part-time employee who worked exclusively on the night shift, and I was surprised that, despite her advanced age, she was still working under such harsh conditions. Some clients receiving long-term care through day services were actually younger than the care workers, who were themselves elderly. I often wondered whether those workers were really coping, both physically and mentally, since in reality their jobs must have been very demanding. I did not know the circumstances that kept them employed, but even though they seemed healthy, I could not help but feel that something was terribly wrong about the fact that, at their advanced age, they were still forced to continue such demanding work in elderly care.
(translated version of the post on October 30, 2022)
私は、この小規模多機能型居宅介護事業所で、一応ケアマネとして採用してもらったものの、実質的には利用者の入浴介助専門のような立場で働いていましたが、この職場で働いていた職員の中には、70歳を超えるような、いわゆる高齢者が介護職員として何人か働いていました。そのうちの一人は、夜勤専従のパート職員として働いており、高齢であるにも関わらず、夜勤という過酷な状況で働いているのに驚かされることになりました。通いサービスを利用されている要介護者の中には、このような高齢の介護職員よりも若い方も何人かいましたし、正直、肉体的にも精神的にも本当に大丈夫なのかと心配してしまっていましたが、実際のところ、やっぱり大変だったのだろうと思います。どのような事情で勤務されていたのかはわかりませんでしたが、本人たちは元気だったとはいえ、このような高齢にも関わらず、介護という過酷な仕事を続けなければならないこの状況は、一体なんなのだろうかと思わざるを得ませんでした。
(2022年10月30日のポストを再掲）