Spreading “self-restraint in nursing care” suffering for users and businesses

Spreading “self-restraint in nursing care” users and businesses suffering on April 11 at 6:19

Due to the effects of the new coronavirus, some elderly people have refrained from using day services.
On the other hand, there are also cases where people lose their chances to go out and their physical functions are impaired.

Prevention of use of day service hinders life

Muneshige Kado (78), who lives alone in Tokyo, was in need of nursing care 1 and went to day service almost every day.

At the facility, I have been exercising, eating and bathing.

However, in the middle of last month, we temporarily refrained from using day services to prevent infection with the new coronavirus.

A few days later, a falling nurse near the bed at home, a visiting nurse who visited a place where he could not move, found him, and was hospitalized for four days.

The establishment suspects that his strength has been reduced due to the lack of going out and his legs have been entangled and he has fallen.

Mr. Kado has difficulty in walking and can not go shopping alone, which is affecting his life.

For this reason, we are beginning to use day services again and working hard to restore physical strength and the rhythm of our lives.

Mr. Kado said, "I was worried about what would happen if I fell, and I wanted to go home early even while I was in the hospital.

The office is concerned that changes in the living environment due to restraints on use could have a significant impact on the lives of the elderly.

The government allows day service staff to visit users' homes and provide temporary services, but says that it is not easy for staff who are not accustomed to home care.

Tsutomu Sato, director of the care center "Kind Care", said, "It is impossible to do all of the support provided by day service at home. If you do not move your body due to use restraint, your muscle strength and physical strength will decrease, I'm concerned that it could lead to injuries such as falls, and I'm afraid that my dementia may progress, and I'm wondering how to deal with it. "

The number of tsusho facilities reduced by half the number of users

Elderly people who have stopped using this day service facility since last month due to the new coronavirus have gradually started to increase.

The office provides various services such as exercise, meals and bathing.

Once a hour, the window is opened to ventilate the room and exercise equipment is thoroughly disinfected with alcohol before and after use.

In addition, we strive to prevent infection by thoroughly washing our users.

Nevertheless, the number of users who had been 20 continued to decrease, and now it is about half. However, even if the number of users decreases, the number of staff cannot be reduced to maintain the quality of service.

On the other hand, one child-raising staff can no longer work due to school closures, and if this is prolonged, more people may be unable to work.

In that case, it is said that there is a risk that the service can not be continued.

The business establishment will continue to operate as much as possible to protect the lives of users and the employment of staff, but revenue has already been reduced by half, and if this situation continues, business continuity will be prospect has alarmed that or not than will not stand.

"Surely, despite the shortage of care workers, there is concern that if we get fired, we will be back again. The state and local governments also have a clear policy on how to continue day service. We are thinking about future measures while worrying about it every day. "

Concerns about increased family burden

The use of day services is becoming more frequent, and the burden on families is increasing.

Mitsue Mogi, a nursing home visitor in Yokohama, has recently been receiving consultations from families of elderly people who refrain from using day services.

Among them, women in their 60s are said to have been mentally driven by their mothers in their 80s who lived there two days a week since last month.

It is said that the mother who lost the opportunity to go out had to keep an eye on her muscle strength and became easily fallen, and she had no choice but to watch TV even at home.

For this reason, she has not been able to go shopping for her mother at home and has been restless for the past month.

Her husband also worked at home, increasing the burden of housework and becoming mentally unstable.

Mr. Mogi feels that the caregiver's family is becoming more stressed by the effects of the new coronavirus.

For this reason, we are concerned that if the use of the service is prolonged, there is a risk that both the care recipient and the supporting family may fall down.

Mr. Mogi said, “This is the first time, especially after the declaration of an emergency, the number of consultations has increased. "

Conflict due to infection anxiety and care burden

A woman in her 50s living in Tokyo lived with her mother in her 80s, and her mother went to day service three times a week for lunch and bathing.

Last month, however, she refrained from using it for two weeks because of the risk of transmission of the new coronavirus.

He said that he stayed at home every day, and began to complain of languidness in the evening because of the fear that he might be infected.

She works, but she cuts down her work early to prepare meals and assist in bathing to take care of her mother.

It is said that women gradually became more irritable and could not afford to treat their mother with plenty of time.

If the use of day service continues to be continued as it is, I am worried that my mother's physical function may be further deteriorated, thinking that I may be mentally cornered, and having her resume this month I did it.

According to a woman who struggled between the risk of infection and the burden of nursing care, "I am worried that I can go to day service, but I have no choice but to stop my mother, so I have resumed using it. Then the day service itself may be closed and I am not worried. "

Experts: Steady efforts are important

Associate Professor Tatsuaki Takano of Toyo University, who is familiar with nursing care for the elderly, said that elderly people voluntarily refrained from day service and that they could not meet family members at facilities. There is a concern that mental and physical functions will gradually decline as the opportunities decrease, and this will become more serious as the number of weeks and months increases. "

In addition, regarding the support of elderly people who voluntarily refrain from day service, etc., "In some cases, switching from day service to visiting care is not easy because of the shortage of human resources. However, it is important for family members and local volunteers to take a walk around the house and talk to them while avoiding the risk of infection. "

In addition, he said that refraining from using the service greatly affects the management of nursing care providers, saying that if the number of nursing care facilities decreases even if the infection with the new coronavirus ends, the life of the elderly will not be feasible. It is imperative that local governments take measures to support management. "