Cutting-edge Daily Life of Elderly #7 Self-Reablement!?

 

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare calls for the further expansion of community gathering places for older people in order to improve healthy life expectancy, setting a goal to increase their participation rate from 6.2% in FY2022 to 8% by FY2025. Currently, women represent the majority of participants in these places (79.6%) while men account only for 20.4%. Main activities organized there are exercise (53.9%), congregate meals (2.7%), tea parties (13.0%), dementia prevention (3.6%), and recreational activities (20.7%)*.

 

I had an opportunity to take part in an eco-print workshop, transferring the patterns and colors of natural plants on fabric. There were three students, all females including myself. As the instructor explained the process, a man appeared from the back room, making a rustling sound with his head down.

The instructor introduced him, “This is my husband. He helps me with the work,” but the husband’s head was still down. Is he shy, maybe? I wondered for a second, but I soon forgot about it once the work started.

 

We used a variety of plants at the workshop, mostly collected by the instructor, including maple, golden lace flower, kale, tulip, rose, marguerite, Japanese pepper leaves, witch-hazel leaves, statice, lacquer leaves, and many more.

“Look. Isn’t this cute? This is an engendered species called Kanto dandelion. The plants were growing on the site of the former medical juvenile training school but moved to three juvenile facilities. They will be returned to the site once the new facility is completed. My husband is helping with planting them as a volunteer and got some from there.” I turned to the husband; he was nodding contently. The spring-like yellow dandelion is really cute. I’ll definitely use it! Having made up my mind, I experimented by lining up three flowers on the cloth.

As we arranged the plants using our own creativity, the husband was quietly watching us from a distance. “Oh, now you feel like trying it yourself, don’t you?” Hearing the instructor’s comment, the husband gave a grumpy look and left the room to work in the garden.

 

After arranging the plants, placing mordanted cloth, and wrapping it with string, we had one hour to steam it. The instructor served snacks while waiting: “Could you please get my husband in the garden? He’ll understand if you say ‘Daddy’.”

“Daddy, it’s snack time. Why don’t you join us. Daddy!” I called him from the patio door, and he gave me a smile for the first time, raising his hand.

 

When the instructor, the husband, and the three of us students enjoyed the snack, the instructor slowly started talking: “My husband, now 82 years old, has dropped head syndrome. We don’t know what’s causing it.” That would explain why he had kept his head down. “I love the indigo-dyed scarf you’re wearing around the neck. Is that the work of the instructor?” To this question by one of the students, the husband answered shyly: “Yeah. I’ve got a lot, but this one is the best for my condition now. I first used a corset offered at the hospital, but it was quite painful. I also have a thicker, silk scarf, but it makes me easily get tired because my chin goes too high. This linen fabric is just right in softness and thickness. Indigo also keeps insects away.”

“The hospital people said there’s nothing more they could do and I wouldn’t need to come back. They also told me to go to an exercise class near my house,” said the husband with a little frustrated look. I ventured to ask him: “Oh, you go to an exercise class? How is it like, doing the same thing with everyone else?” He answered instantly: “No, I don’t go. No way I’m doing it with all the others. Most of all, I hate being told what to do. So I make my own exercise menu and do it with my wife at home.” It turned out that his niece was a graduate of the Nippon Sport Science University, teaching exercise classes for seniors in the community. The niece picked some exercises that might work for the husband and gave him printed instructions with illustrations. He would work on them according to his physical condition. “Well, I can lift my chin quite a bit now. Also, like the dandelion you’re using, I’ve been volunteering to protect the environment. That is fun and giving me energy.” Hmm, sounds like he’s managing himself all right.

“My husband is also particular about eating dinner exactly at 6 p.m. every day. But I have to work, you know. So he’s been in charge of preparing dinner lately. He even goes shopping for us,” added the instructor. “Wow, that’s great! Dad, you’re multitalented.” As we exclaimed in amazement, he looked both embarrassed and happy. I asked him, “Every day after lunch, I have to think about what to make for dinner. It’s exhausting. How do you decide? Do you use cookbooks?” “Nah. I don’t need much variety for everyday meals. I’ve learned some dishes and make them in rotation. There’s a book on cooking basics, so I taught myself how to cook while looking at it,” said the husband proudly.

 

My guess is that the husband has been intelligent and full of curiosity to begin with. He also seems to be good with his hands. And he must have been in a position to give instructions to his junior staff.

I’ve heard that many men are reluctant to go to community gathering places. But like this husband, another option may be to analyze themselves and enjoy restoring their functions on their own. In this case, his wife and niece are doing a great job by understanding his personality and offering support accordingly. Also, volunteering outside and having lively conversations with his wife’s students like myself may be creating synergy.

 

   After an hour for steaming, we removed the string tied around the scarf and the plants used as patterns. What we saw were breathtakingly beautiful natural colors transferred on the cloth. The Kanto dandelion the husband had picked also gave lovely yellow colors. “Dad, the colors came out beautifully!” I told him, to which he smiled joyfully and nodded repeatedly.

   By the time we had cleaned up and left, it was early evening; the husband was busy making miso soup.

“Thank you so much for everything!” As we said to him, the husband greeted back by lifting the ladle without turning to us.

   Dad, you’re so cool!

 Written by Mamiko Kashima

 

(Note) From the Health and Welfare Bureau for the Elderly, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. “Results of the survey on the implementation (FY2020) of the general programs on preventive care and daily living support (community support programs): summary.”