訪問介護事業所 F (Home help service provider F)
Reasons for quitting my helper job I had been working as a visiting home helper while also serving as a caregiver at a group home for elderly people with dementia. I found the work at the group home very engaging and educational, and it sparked a strong interest in studying elderly welfare—particularly care for those with dementia—on a more professional level. As a result, in April 2012, I decided to enroll in a training course for the national qualification of psychiatric social worker....
Thus, one important lesson I learned from my experience as a visiting home helper is that, when caring for elderly people with dementia at home, it is essential to have at least one reliable family member—such as a spouse who has lived with them for many years, or an adult child—by their side at all times. However, when both the caregiver and the care recipient are elderly, many challenges arise. Elderly couples living in the community while trying to care for one another—such as cases...
If elderly people living alone are relatively healthy and have no cognitive impairments, it may be possible for them to continue living independently in familiar neighborhoods—especially if they make effective use of visiting home help services. However, as people age, some degree of cognitive decline is almost inevitable. For those who are clearly experiencing dementia, living alone becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible. After all, once cognitive function deteriorates, managing...
The reality of caring for the elderly at home – its difficulties However, I also believe that the serious challenges in providing elderly care at home remain unresolved—and if these issues are not addressed, even greater difficulties may await future generations. For example, consider the difficulties faced by elderly people living alone in their communities. Even when moving around town, you may have seen elderly individuals slowly crossing streets or railroad crossings by themselves,...
In addition, even if you plan to move into a nursing home, the initial cost can be significant. Even in relatively low-cost facilities, demand is high, and you may have to wait a long time for a vacancy to become available. There has long been a shortage of care workers, and I have heard that this lack is limiting the number of people who can enter care facilities. Given these challenges, living comfortably at home with the support of a visiting care worker, if needed, seems like a practical...
As I have described, my grandmother developed dementia and moved into a nursing home with care services. However, I believe it took her a long time to adjust to living there. From her perspective, she was already in an unstable position—both subjectively and objectively—due to her dementia. On top of that, she was placed in an entirely new environment. It is easy to imagine how confused she must have felt. From my grandmother's perspective, she was in a state where she did not even...
The reality of caring for the elderly at home – its benefits This is especially true for me, as I have no friends and struggle with socializing. For many people, including myself, simply being in a crowd can be mentally and physically draining. That is why I believe that spending time in our own room at home is the most relaxing and comforting experience. I personally believe that nothing can replace the comfort of being able to fart loudly or walk around naked after a bath without worrying...
At the care provider where I worked, visiting care workers would travel to clients' homes by bicycle and perform predetermined care tasks for about 30 minutes to an hour. These tasks were broadly divided into two categories. The first was daily life assistance, which included cooking and preparing meals, cleaning the room, and taking out the trash. The second was physical care, which involved direct support for the client’s body, such as assistance with toileting, mobility, and medication. Of...
Visiting home helper I signed an employment contract in May 2011 and began working as a visiting care worker. After leaving the nursing home, I wanted to gain first-hand experience of elderly care by working in various roles related to it. Since I was also working what is known as a double work—alongside a care worker position at a group home for dementia care in downtown Tokyo, where I was hired around the same time—my job as a visiting helper became a part-time role, about two days a...
Home help service provider F I had experienced emotional difficulties with the chief care staff, who, during my job interview, asked me about my “caregiving dreams.” I believe I had already decided to leave the nursing home by the time I was arguing with them about the night shift in May—which is why I used my ultimate weapon: a direct mail to the president. While continuing to work part-time on night shifts at the nursing home, I searched for other part-time caregiver jobs, considering...