より良い高齢者介護観に向けて（Towards a better perspective on elderly care: a case study）
Below is the abstract of the paper I published. The original is in English, but I also included a Japanese translation of it in my Japanese book. Towards a Better Perspective on Elderly Care: A Case Study Takahiro Miyo Asian Journal of Humanity, Art and Literature (2020) 7: 91-112. Purpose: The percentage of the elderly is increasing on a worldwide scale, and Japan has the highest in the world. Under this difficult demographic situation, how well the elderly can live their later lives is a very...
Until now, I have mainly submitted my work to genetics-related journals. However, because this paper contains very little genetic content and is more closely related to questions of human nature, I decided to submit it to an online journal in the humanities. As always, I had great difficulty translating my thoughts into English, but once again I was able to complete my manuscript with the help of the professor who supported me during my time in Edinburgh. Now that I am over 50 years old, my...
Abstract of the submitted paper I decided to compile into a paper the results of the interviews I conducted with Mr. and Mrs. A. As expected, the experience of caring for elderly parents appears to have a significant impact on how individuals envision their own later life. For example, the experience of caring for their mother, who had dementia, did not necessarily lead Mr. and Mrs. A to form a pessimistic image of living with dementia. Instead, it seems to have helped them reach a state of...
Based on a qualitative analysis of the interview data, I summarized Mr. A’s hopes and aspirations for his later life as follows. These interpretations were discussed with him through a process of member checking in order to address potential researcher bias and to obtain his consent. When I need care and help from others, how much I could be satisfied with my own life would be the most fundamental matter. Thanks to everyone, I have done what I desired to do. Among others, my elementary school...
On the other hand, Mr. A’s case also suggests that his experience of caring for his elderly parents strongly influenced how he envisioned his own later life. In particular, caring for his mother, who had dementia, seemed to have had a major impact on him. In the interview, he spoke about how, after experiencing the great difficulties of caring for his mother with dementia and observing her gradually become more at ease and calm after she entered a nursing home, he came to a state of mind in...
A care plan made while still healthy From the perspective of encouraging Mrs. A to think about her later life while she was still in good health, her comments during the interview did not necessarily convey a pessimistic view of old age. Rather, they expressed her intention to actively fulfill her role in later life. She felt that remaining active and continuing to fulfill her role would help her maintain her health and reduce the likelihood that she would require care or support. In...
In conducting this study, I complied with relevant Japanese laws and took the necessary ethical considerations as a registered care manager and certified care worker. In particular, I adhered to Articles 69-34 (Obligations of a Long-term Care Support Specialist), 69-36 (Prohibition of Acts that Damage Impartiality), and 69-37 (Confidentiality Obligations) of the Long-Term Care Insurance Act, as well as Articles 45 (Prohibition of Acts that Damage Credibility), 46 (Duty of Confidentiality), and...
Prior to the interviews, in early February 2018, I provided Mr. and Mrs. A with a document that briefly explained the purpose and outline of the study, along with a questionnaire designed to gather basic information about their past. I did this because I felt they might need a few days to recall their experiences and to form a clearer picture of them. A few days later, I also gave them a list of the topics and questions that would be covered in the interview so that they could prepare their...
Here, I would like to briefly introduce the elderly couple who participated in this study. Mr. A was in his early 80s at the time of his participation. His father passed away in a hospital about 45 years ago, while Mr. A was busy with work. His mother later developed dementia and, after several years of care, passed away in a nursing home. Mrs. A was in her late 70s at the time of her participation. Her father lost consciousness after surgery for a brain tumor and remained hospitalized and...
In this study, I focused on one elderly couple (hereafter referred to as Mr. and Mrs. A). I chose them because I had my own experiences caring for their elderly parents, through which I knew that they had encountered a wide range of caregiving situations. For this reason, I believed they were well suited to this study. In addition, I assumed that if they were to need care support in the future, I would be the person responsible for creating their care plans. From the perspective of continuity...