"The Solitary Gourmet" | Yuko Takeda, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care
2020.06.09
I received a message with the above title, accompanied by a photo. It showed vibrant green fava beans, and the sender was my husband.
My 89-year-old mother fell and fractured her pubis last August. She was hospitalized for rehabilitation, where she fell two more times. Her hospital stay extended to over 240 days, far exceeding the planned three months of rehabilitation, but she was finally discharged on June 1.
Although she has been discharged, she cannot return to her previous lifestyle, so she has begun living with my sister, utilizing long-term care services. I am also staying with them for the first week to monitor her living situation.
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital visits were prohibited from the end of February, and although Zoom meetings were introduced in April, this was our first reunion in a long time. Her hair color had faded, and her overgrown hair made her look like an old witch. I cut her hair, and my sister colored it, bringing her appearance closer to how she looked before her hospitalization. She smiled as she saw her reflection in the mirror, looking at least 10 years younger.
A long hospital stay diminishes not only muscle strength but also cognitive function. My mother, who has an underlying lung condition, is also on home oxygen therapy, so ensuring her safety and monitoring her requires considerable mental and physical effort. We have a 24-hour system in place: my sister takes care of her during the day while I work, and I sleep in the same room with her at night. It is a relief to see my mother happy to be discharged and living surrounded by her daughters.
The main challenges are toileting and fall prevention. Especially at night, we make full use of a portable toilet, a monitoring sensor, and diapers to ensure her safety, security, and comfort (the basics of nursing...).
My husband's email with the title was his reply when I contacted him to ask, "How are you doing?" after a week of him living alone. The cooperation of family is essential for us to support each other, and I am grateful that he seems to be enjoying his "solitary gourmet" life in his own way. It lightens my heart.
I imagine many people have been forced to make various changes to their daily lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we must do the best we can with what we can. If those around us can watch over these efforts with warmth and occasionally interact with a sense of humor, I believe that once we overcome these challenges, we will have built not only a new lifestyle but also strong, supportive relationships.