Delving into the Intangibles


   “Elderly Care”  
     
 

Some day we all have to die.
But nowadays we live longer and longer, thanks to advances in medical technology.

“A Million Centenarians in Japan by 2050”
This staggering estimate could become a reality if human longevity continues expanding exponentially.
Modern societies everywhere have a pressing need to deal with ageing issues.

Elderly care is one.
It has two aspects: physical care and mental care; or, put another way, “visible” and “invisible” care.
I came to realize this while nursing my beloved husband for six years.
I feel I’m entitled to call myself something of “veteran” in the field.

I tried my best to please and satisfy him as much as possible, every day.
I learned the hard way that delicate attention and warm consideration for something invisible was very important.

I will never forget him nodding when I said loudly in his ear: “We’ll be holding hands in the next world, just as we are now.” He could not speak, but he gave me a look of relief, a silent “thank you.”

Relieving unease, sadness, and pain in the invisible mind through conversation, by fostering a comforting atmosphere, and by acting with fellow feeling will produce good results for anyone.

Surely visible care is important, but invisible care is much more important.

That’s because a human being is a combination of things “physical “and things “mental,” namely, the “visible” and the “invisible.”

 
                                                        K.Yamakawa