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So soon, the 2-week trip to Japan to learn about their aging society is coming to an end with so many opportunities to learn and have fun. This day was pretty busy as we had to run an early schedule to visit the Fujisawa City Senior ICT Intercultural Communication building and the Yoko-no-Sono nursing home. This blog is dedicated to the Yoko-no-Sono nursing home, how care is administered, some challenges, and recent efforts for improvements.
The Choju-Kai Social Welfare Corporation is located in Odawara, Kanagawa. It is located in a mountainous landscape surrounded by so much nature. The long stretch of Hydrangeas, which oftentimes are used for bathing residents, stared and guarded the nursing home with so much love and energy. Established in 1953 as a fee-based home for older adults preceding the universal healthcare insurance in Japan, the “Yoko-no-Sono” nursing home continues to provide intensive care, short-term stay, daytime, and low-cost home services to residents. They pride themselves on fully equipped facilities that meet the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) needs as a way of promoting healthy living among older adults, older adults living with dementia, and those with disabilities. For example, they have dedicated rooms for end-of-life journeys and are typically residents who need level-5 care. Residents are assigned to these private rooms after assessments from nursing home management. We were privileged to meet with one of their many centenarians, who is 107 years old. Living in this nursing home for the past 15 years as a “long-life, long-term traveler,” she was filled with joy when she met with us and blessed us in any way she could. It is interesting to see the deep collaborations between the nursing home and other countries, such as South Korea and Taiwan, that have led to continuous learning and the implementation of best practices. Out of these collaborations, the nursing home has been able to tap into its direct care workforce to make up for the shortages. Obvious of the challenges associated with direct care work – stress, burnout, low pay, trauma – this nursing home is intentional about strengthening the workforce by creating and maintaining a congenial work environment, providing training opportunities, fun activities for staff, and above all, properly laid out a mechanism to respond to staff grievances.
This trip has been worthwhile – the humility, eagerness to help, friendliness, sumptuous food, and memories of beautiful sceneries in Japan are something I am taking with me. I can't wait to see all there is left before heading back to the United States.
Alfred Boakye
2nd Year PhD (Gerontology)
University of Maryland, Baltimore & University of Maryland, Baltimore County