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Renovation

May 7, 2020

Normally he didn't watch this type of TV program so often, because they were too realistic for him. On this day, after watching a cooking program, this "real-life" program started. Watching a cooking program was also a rare case for him, but because of the current situation of refraining from going out due to the Coronavirus, he cooked more than before and he wanted some cooking tips from the program. With that said, the "real-life" program related to the country's social welfare. In this aging country, this type of TV programs seemed to be more and more common. He had a mother who was in her middle 80s. He lived near her and sometimes visited her. Although she was healthy now, he could think that she might need some nursing assistance someday. But, facing up to reality wasn't an easy thing. He naturally avoided this type of program. But, on this day, he remained watching the TV broadcast, maybe because of its title, "Empowerment of a house for nursing ~tips in order to nurse at home". There were three women on the program ~a middle aged announcer as the host; a main female guest, who was an architect; and, another middle aged guest. The architect had designed the renovation for over 900 houses. As she had been living with her old mother, now 100 years old, she had been changing their house according to her mother's physical situation. The experience had greatly worked for her renovation design ideas as an architect. She mainly designed renovates for elderly people. She said that when people build their house, they are young and active; but, when they get old, the house has become unsuitable for their age, so renovation is needed. She explained that the important idea to renovate was how the new house could support the residents and their capabilities. She gave an example of her mother's case. As her mother got older, she started to feel tired when cooking. So she took off the doors and shelves under the sink so that her mother would be able to cut vegetables or do other things while sitting on a stool. After a while, her mother became wheel chair bound, and so she had to renovate again. One room was the restroom. She took the door out and put in a role curtain, which enabled her mother to go in and out easily. She also recommended to change the place of the bathroom. Bathrooms are normally located at the far end of the house. So she relocated it near the living room. She said that as people get older, their need to go to the bathroom increases. In addition, their legs are weak or maybe they use a wheelchair, so having only a short distance to go to the toilet is helpful for them. And if the room is large and nice, the users feel comfortable to use it each time. The guest person was amazed at the architect's original ideas. Until then, she only thought about renovation for elderly people and physically challenged people by attaching slopes at the entrance gate, and maybe some handrails at the stairs. These common renovations are termed "barrier free" or "universal design". The architect criticized the governmental policy of welfare, saying that the government easily suggests moving elderly people to facilities. However, if people are given more options to what they can do, they can do more things. When her mother came back from the hospital after surgery, she said that it was like a dream to be home. Many people want to live in their own house to the very end. The architect warned that whether being able to use a toilet by oneself or not could be a turning point between staying healthy and becoming bed ridden or becoming senile. She advised changing even small things to help the elderly, for example making their seats higher in order for them to stand up easier; or, using a turn table under the TV, so it can enable the person to watch TV from anywhere, thus reducing their burden to move just to watch TV. She recommend that if you use a walking support cart, you should use a cart with a table. In this case, you could carry your tea safely by yourself. Doing things themselves would keep one's brain healthy, stay confident, and reduce worries; and, at the end, it can reduce the risks of going senile. She added that there were many national welfare subsidies you can use for personal house renovations. At the end of the program, the host asked the architect what people could start with. She recommended to clear one's rooms. When he heard this, he felt that it was too simple, especially after her elaborate recommendations. But she continued that if there are obstacles in the room, the residents might fall; and, more importantly, people would begin to feel troublesome to move around, and it would make them passive. Passive thinking was the biggest enemy for many. She also said, "Anybody can clear one's rooms anytime, but very few people really do." He had to agree with that. People tend to think things are difficult, even when they are easy. Her mother is still able to do most everything: she can eat, read books, watch TV, go to the restroom (although she asks for social helpers regularly), she was positive and, maybe most importantly, she seemed to be enjoying her simple life.

*realistic :現実的
*refrain :慎む、自粛する
*due to :ために
*with that said :そんな際、そんなわけで
*remain :ままにする
*empowerment :能力を高めること
*unsuitable :不適当
*capability :できること
*bound :縛られた、必需の
*handrail :手すり
*whether ~ or not :かどうか
*senile :認知症
*subsidy :補助金
*obstacle :障害物
*passive :受け身の、消極的