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認知症の人の「くらし」を考える ＃１　希望のリレー国際フォーラムから

 2025年2月に東京で開催された「国内外の認知症の当事者がバトンをつなぐ　希望のリレー　国際フォーラム 2025」で、49歳で若年性認知症と診断されたオーストラリアのケイト・スワファーさんの話を聞いた。

医師からは「これからは何もできなくなるので、仕事を辞めて将来に備えてください」と告げられた。しかし、スワファーさんは診断後、認知症当事者による権利擁護活動を開始し、認知症当事者として国連やWHOで講演を行い、博士課程で研究を続けている。

このように、認知症と診断されたときに「もう何もできない」と決めつけられ、社会とのつながりが断たれてしまうことを、「断絶処方（Prescribed Disengagement）©」と彼女は表現している。断絶処方によって、本人がもつ可能性が奪われないように、当たり前の「権利」の擁護に意識を向けたい。

また、彼女の話の中で、「リエイブルメント」が出てきた。ILCチームで取り組んできた重要なテーマだ。リエイブルメントとは、本人のできることを活かし、対話の中でともに働きかけるアプローチである。従来の支援は「失われた能力を補う」ことに重点が置かれてきたが、リエイブルメントは「本人のこれまでの暮らしを大切に、できることを増やし、社会の中で役割を持つ」ことを目指している。

認知症の人が「支援を受ける側」ではなく、「社会の一員」としてつながり続けること、社会全体で「できることを活かし続ける支援」を広げていくことの大事さを再確認した大事な時間。

「希望を選べば、何だってできる（Once you choose hope, anything is possible）」という彼女の言葉に励まされ、どうすれば希望を選べる社会になるのか、自分ごととして、一歩一歩、考え続けたい。

☆認知症介護情報ネットワークのHPで、「国内外の認知症の当事者がバトンをつなぐ　希望のリレー　国際フォーラム 2025　～認知症当事者の声とチカラ、つながりを活かして、共生社会の推進を～」に関する資料・動画が下記に掲載されている。関心を寄せて頂いた方はぜひチェックいただきたい。

https://suishinin.jp/suishinin/suishinin_event/event_No6-2.php

 

日本福祉大学　福祉経営学部　中島民恵子（Taeko Nakashima）

https://www.nfu.ne.jp/

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