Cutting-edge Daily Life of the Elderly＃１

 

Let’s Go To a Concert!

 

In Japan, around 36 million people were aged 65 and over as of the end of May 2024, of whom 6.8 million (18.9%)* were considered “frail,” facing the risk of losing independence. This number is larger than the total population of Singapore (around 6.1 million). The good news, however, is that frailty is reversible; you can restore and maintain your independence by improving your lifestyle.

 

In July 2024, my favorite band had an outside concert to celebrate their 30th anniversary. As their long-time fan enduring years without their concerts because of the pandemic, my excitement was beyond words!

I was in my late 20s when I joined their fan club and started going to their concerts. Over 20 years have passed since then, and we are all growing older, including myself, the friend I go to their concerts with, other fans, as well as the artists.

 

On my way to the concert, I see a woman probably in her 60s, wearing a matching red event t-shirt, a little too much make up, and a pigtail hairstyle. Another person, a man around 60, has a spiky hairstyle made with plenty of wax, in the color just like the artists. They are all on the train quietly, heading to the event along with younger fans.

 

As I arrive at the venue and have a seat, I find that the woman on the seat in front of me is using a cane and supported by (maybe) her daughter. My guess is that she will take it easy and stay seated to enjoy the concert. The friend who comes with me also has a heart problem for the last few years, and it has been six years since the last time we went to their concert. She told me that she might need to sit down during the event.

 

Now, the show finally starts. With loud cheers filling the space, the fans stand up all at once—old, young, and even the lady in front of me with the cane! The program is exactly the same as the one 25 years ago, transporting us to 1999 and letting us have a blast just like those days.

 

The fans get energy from the band members, who don’t look like they are in their 50s, and give back twice as much energy to them.

The lady in front of me raises her both hands without the cane, the woman with pigtails moves her arms with tinsel, and the man with spiky hair raises a fist over his head—all singing loudly, dancing, and smiling.

 

The concert lasts for three hours, counting the encore, but wait a minute…no one is sitting down?! Even my friend, who wasn’t confident in her stamina, keeps standing and is covered in sweat.

 

Well, we have nothing to worry about, after all. We don’t need a cane. If we get dressed up for what we love, spend over an hour to get there, and enjoy singing and dancing, standing for three hours is no big deal.

Isn’t that the best rehabilitation or what?

 

This is not just about physical health or strength; you also need to use your brain to make it happen. Since most tickets are now electronic, you need to have some ICT literacy skills, such as reading QR codes. A smartphone is an essential item.

 

In order to get to the concert venue and enjoy the event, you need to overcome various challenges requiring not just physical strength but intellectual skills and curiosity as well. Here are some examples:

·         Find information on the concert

·         Apply for the ticket lottery

·         Check the lottery result

·         Pay for the ticket (by credit card)

·         Use an app to check if the ticket has arrived

·         Distribute the e-ticket to the friend (if you’re going together)

·         Show the QR code on the smartphone screen

·         Find information on concert merchandise

·         Buy the items you like

·         Check the concert setlist

·         Download their new songs, using an app, and memorize them

·         Check how to get to the concert venue (if you live far, reserve train/plane tickets)

·         Prepare for heat

·         Choose the clothing and hairstyle for the concert

 

You can successfully arrive at the concert venue only when you complete all these tasks on your own or with someone’s help. If you can do all of these, you may no longer be considered “frail,” don’t you think?

 

“For what I love”—this motivation must be the key to staying active.

<Written by Mamiko Kashima>

 

* Calculated based on the proportion presented in Figure 3 (p.15) in the FY2021 report on the “Study for Community Development through Collaboration with Various Industries

Based on the Construction of Community-Based Integrated Care Systems” by the International Longevity Center-Japan, using data in the Monthly Report of Statistics of Long-Term Care Benefit Expenditures (provisional, May 2024) by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.