POLEPOLE January, 2006
ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION JAPAN, MEWSLETTER
“Pole-Pole”
BULLETIN NO､306 January 2006
Summary Translation: Hirosawa Kayoko
1 News and information
The specialist in Dementia Care
On October 2nd 2005 the 6th General Meeting of Japanese Society for Dementia Care (Akira Homma, President) was opened in Matsue City. They announced 2470 people passed the 1st certifying examination of specialist in Dementia Care. Japanese Society for Dementia Care started as the institution of the specialists in dementia care to improve the situation and 5121 people made application for the examination.
The application period of the 2nd certifying examination is from Jan. 10th to Feb.10th.
For inquiries, please contact www.chihoucare.org
Elder Abuse Prevention Law will take effect from this April
Elder Abuse Prevention Law will take effect from April 1st, 2006. The purpose of this law is the prevention, discovery and protection of elder abuse and the protection of caregivers. The word “abuse” in this law means as follows: physical violence, mental violence, sexual violence, giving up nursing care and the unfair disposal of elderly person’s property. The word “caregiver” means the person who is a home caregiver or a caregiver of a facility. So the specialists and ordinary people have to inform to their local governments by means of law when they find the elderly persons who lives are in danger because of abuse. After that the local government make an investigation into the abuse and taking care of the elderly persons, and also they advise the caregivers concerning this problem. They will make a request to the police for help, if necessary. From now on we will find out the abuse and protect not of only elderly person but also of caregivers. Thus we should improve the social environments.
2 2006, A Happy New Year
New Year’s greetings from Mr. Takami, President
Family Groups believe in the bright future. To believe doesn’t mean doing nothing. “The Society Where the Sufferers Can Live Safely” will come into being if we come together and do our best.
Members, your cooperation would be much appreciated.
3 Letters from the member
(1) My father’s condition is stable at nursing home for elderly.
(Tokyo. O. 47years old.)
Recently my father went to a nursing home for elderly on care manager’s advice. I worried about my mother’s fatigue and health. He hadn’t get day care before. To my surprise, his condition is better than before. I was moved to tears when I saw the photo that he joined in a handicraft class.
(2) It is very hard for us to use short-term stay.
(Oita pref. Mrs. O. 50years old)
It is six years since I began to care my mother who is acknowledged needing care 3.
She attend day care four times a week, and short-term stay twice a year.
Actually, it is very hard for us to use short-term stay, because there are many who
Want to do so.
When it was decided, she had a fever the day before. So I have always been worried about her health condition even if she is in the facilities. And I am very anxious that nobody may take my place.
(3) The family budget is pretty tight after revising the Long Term Care Insurance system. (Shizuoka pref. Mrs. N.)
After the revision of the Long Term Care Insurance system, I’m having trouble making ends meet because the increasing of our own expenses. Now my husband (needing care 5) is in the geriatric health care facility. His condition is not so good, so I can’t take care of him at home.
There is no choice if we can’t bear the burden of heavy expenses. I’m worried about what may lie ahead, and it is difficult to find the best way for us.
4 Series: Reading “Alzheimer’s disease” 10 by Dr. Isao Ozawa
Obaachan (The grandmother)
Author: Shuntarou TANIGAWA Publisher: Parun sha
I review a picture book this time. This book was written about a senile grandmother from her grandson’s point of view. It is out of print, but the plan to reprint is underway.
His grandmother’s disease “dementia” is very serious.
“My grandma seems to be a baby. She always sleeps in bed. She uses diapers. And she can’t have a meal without help,” he said. “But she doesn’t crying like a baby, when she is hungry. She shouted, [Haven’t you prepare a meal yet?]. [You have,] my mother said.” When my mother was angry, my father got angry with her. He didn’t take care of his mother, but he wanted to treat his mother kindly. Sometimes grandma said to him,” Who are you?” She didn’t forget that my mother was the person who cared for her every day, even thought she forgot her name. She however forgot her son, because he didn’t know how she felt. “Sometimes my grandma said to my mother [You are a thief.]” “My mother is crying all by herself.”
She was tired from nursing care. Her husband didn’t understand her either. She could not help crying.
“[I want my grandma’s death,] he said. My mother looked down upon me and said nothing.] The doctor said, [There is no medicine which works for dementia.] He thought, “Grandma became an alien. And it is very hard for us to live with an alien. But an alien has its. And it isn’t good to destroy life.”
This author wrote on the last page as follows: He thought, “My father and mother will become aliens, when they get old. And I will be an alien, too.”
The grandson felt that generally dementia comes from old age. I think that the valuable experience with his grandmother would be good for his future.
(To be continued)
5 Please understand us— series 10
Many letters and diaries were sent to us for the research of sufferer’s feeling
We reviewed a part of the diaries.
Message from a family
She entered a hospital on April 19th 1997. She kept a diary five days before entering. She couldn’t express her feelings in words. So we thought that it is impossible for her to write the diary but she did. She had believed in Christianity for a long time, so her deep feelings with gratitude were expressed with the same phrases.
Monday April 14th 1997
I wish to thank you all. I’m grateful to you for your kindness. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish to thank you all. I would like to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your kindness.
