高齢者の多くは、「人生の終末期には長く慣れ親しんだ場所で暮らしたい」と考える傾向がある。
Many elderly people tend to wish to spend the end of their lives in a familiar place where they have lived for a long time.
筆者は介護福祉士として、「大多数の高齢者が『今の自宅で生活し続けたい』または『入院や施設入所は避けたい』と述べる」としながら、そのような声が実際に高齢者本人から頻繁に聞かれることを明かす。
The author, as a certified care worker, stated that most elderly people say they want to continue living in their current homes or wish to avoid hospitalization or admission to nursing homes, revealing that they frequently hear such opinions directly from the elderly themselves.
親の独居生活が今後困難になることを心配する子どもが、親を呼び寄せて同居するケースもしばしば見受けられる。
It is also not uncommon for people to feel uneasy about their parents living alone in the future and decide to have them move in so they can live together.
しかし、見知らぬ環境での生活は、近所に知り合いもおらず、閉塞的な気持ちを抱かせることも少なくない。
However, living in an unfamiliar environment without any acquaintances around may cause elderly people to feel suffocated or isolated.
一方、施設入所によって生活が変わり、家族の介護負担が軽減し、精神的な余裕が生まれ、親子の関係が良好になった例も存在する。
On the other hand, there are cases where moving into a nursing home changes daily life, reduces the familys caregiving burden, provides emotional relief, and improves the parent-child relationship.
どこで暮らすにせよ、重要なのは最期をどのように迎えるかという過程にほかならない。
No matter where you live, the most important thing is the process of preparing for how you will spend the final days of your life.
高齢者にとっての「終の棲家」を考えるならば、日々の安全・安心を重視するか、それとも自由を優先するかを考慮する必要がある。
When considering the final place of comfort for the elderly, it is necessary to weigh whether to prioritize daily safety and security or to value freedom.
病院や施設に生活の拠点を移すことは、24時間見守り体制が整う安心感を得られる反面、共同生活の制約や経済的負担増加のリスクも伴う。
Moving to a hospital or a nursing facility provides a sense of security through round-the-clock supervision, but it also comes with risks such as the restrictions of communal living and increased financial burden.
結局、どちらの選択にも一長一短があり、本人と家族の状況と希望を十分に考慮した話し合いを経て導き出された結論こそが最適解である。
Ultimately, every option has its advantages and disadvantages, and the best conclusion can only be reached after carefully considering the circumstances and wishes of the elderly person and their family, and having thorough discussions.
高齢者自身が元気なうちに、自身の希望を家族や身近な人々にあらかじめ伝えておくことが、理想的な最期を迎える助けになるのではなかろうか。
It is likely that actively communicating ones wishes to family members and close friends while still healthy will help ensure a satisfying and ideal end of life.