Nov 25, 2009
Finalists (Japanese to English)
The following five entries (#99, #108, #120, #123, #162) have made it to the final round.
Entry 99
Section 2 Creating a Livable, Beautiful City of 42 Million
(5) Project for the Adaptation of the Community to an Aging Population
In order to deal with issues arising from a rapidly aging society, such as health care, social services and housing, we must promote the development of towns and housing that are comfortable and safe for everyone, from the elderly to those raising children.
* The population of Tokyo is expected to peak in 2010 and decline thereafter.
** The elderly population of Tokyo was approximately 20% in 2005 and is expected to increase to approximately 30% in 2025.
Details of the Plan
Child-Rearing Support and Ensuring Children’s Safety
• Offer multi-layered support for access to housing suitable for child-rearing households, including priority status for renting public housing and establishment of a system for the borrowing and re-renting of houses owned by the elderly.
• As part of the redevelopment of the city, establish childcare centers near neighborhoods of remodeled public rental housing, utilizing empty buildings near train stations, etc.
• Sponsor the establishment of neighborhood child-rearing support centers where parents of young children can chat and exchange ideas.
• Encourage businesses to offer telecommuting options and work towards a better work-life balance for employees.
• Establish after-school classes, clubs, etc. for children who need a place to go after school.
• Promote measures to ensure the safety of children walking to and from school, such as the installation of sidewalks on roads leading to schools, neighborhood crime watch patrols, and installation of street lights.
An example of a road used by students with a sidewalk.
Creating a Neighborhood Where the Elderly and Disabled Feel Secure
• Offer multi-layered housing support including priority status for renting public housing and promotion of the provision of rental packages which include services aimed at senior citizens.
• Create neighborhoods where the elderly are looked after, for example by inviting nursing homes and other social service facilities to locate near remodeled public rental housing, sponsoring services to check on senior citizens which utilize neighborhood support networks, securing commitments by NPO’s to provide transportation services, etc.
• Promote the use of Universal Design in public transportation, housing and other buildings, public open spaces, etc.
• Install guide tiles in flooring for the vision-impaired, ostomate-friendly toilets, etc.
An image of public rental housing with attached social services facility.
Remodeled public housing.
Deluxe public housing.
Day service center, child care center and other facilities.
Pedestrian crossing with bicycle lane and no curb.
Creating the New Town
• Facilitate the diversification of household membership through such means as priority renting status for families with young children or elderly members, and inviting child care centers and other social service facilities to locate near housing complexes.
• Encourage neighborhood management through the cultivation of the talent who will create the New Town, creation of neighborhood rules by residents, cultivation of local businesses, etc.
• Create a vital neighborhood through the use of PFI’s to build private sector know-how and funding.
Building a Safe Health Care System
• Promote the increased use of local doctors and pharmacies to properly distribute the burden on these facilities.
• Provide public transportation to medical facilities, and traveling doctors to serve remote areas.
• Create a regional emergency medical system providing increased access to emergency medical services including complete information-sharing between fire departments and medical professionals, introduction of medical helicopters, and maintenance of the highway network.
• Strengthen measures to contain the New Type Influenza and other infectious diseases.
Regional Map of Access to Advanced Emergency Medical Services
Legend
Advanced Emergency Medical Facility
Expressway
Under 15 Minutes
15 to 30 Minutes
30 to 45 Minutes
45 to 60 Minutes
Over 60 Minutes
Entry 108
[Note from Contest Organizers: Graphical elements translated as graphics not reproduced here]
Section 2: Making a beautiful and comfortable environment a reality for our 42 million residents
(5) Regional development projects which are good for everyone in an aging society
Japan’s low birth rate and its aging society both bring with them a host of issues in the fields of medicine, welfare, and housing. In order to resolve these issues, we are working to create comfortable cities and living spaces, where it is easy to raise children and where our seniors -- and all of our residents -- can feel safe and at ease.
*The population of the Greater Tokyo Area is expected to peak in 2010 and then fall into decline
*The proportion of the elderly (over 65) population in the Greater Tokyo Area was approximately 20% in 2005 and is expected to increase to approximately 30% by 2025
A detailed look at our plans
Providing support for child-rearing and ensuring the safety and security of children
- Stratified plans to provide housing for families with children, including giving priority for public rental housing to those families which are raising children, as well as renting out housing that belongs to senior citizens in order to sublet it to families which are raising children
- Setting up nursery schools during the renovation of public rental housing complexes and urban redevelopment projects, as well as setting up nursery schools and other facilities by actively using currently empty properties near train stations
- Creating spaces where the parents of infants can easily interact with one another and seek advice by providing facilities such as local child-rearing support centers
- Promoting the move among businesses towards telecommuting and realizing a healthy work-life balance
- Ensuring that there is a place for children to go after school by setting up after-school classes and clubs
- Implementing safety measures for students going to and from school by better outfitting the sidewalks that students use to commute, having local safety patrol groups watch over the routes, and keeping the streets lit at night
One example of a sidewalk designed primarily for students going to and from school
Making this a region where our senior citizens can live comfortably
- Stratified plans to provide housing for our senior citizens, such as giving them priority for public rental housing and encouraging the construction of housing with services for senior citizens
- Regional development which will look after senior citizens and others by setting up regional nursing homes and other welfare centers, establishing welfare facilities during the renovation of public rental housing, providing care by putting our regional networks to active use, and offering comprehensive transportation services through NPOs or other organizations
- Promoting the movement towards “universal design” for public transportation, housing, architecture, streets, and more.
- Installing daily living aids such as tactile tile blocks for the visually impaired and toilets equipped for those who have undergone an ostomy procedure
An illustration of a combined public rental housing facility and welfare institute
Wide sidewalks for pedestrians which resolve the problems of height differences
Revitalizing our planned communities
- Diversifying households and the generational makeup of communities by giving housing priority to both families raising children and senior citizens, as well as establishing and inviting in nursery schools and welfare facilities
- Moving forward with an area management plan which will foster the human resources to carry out the revitalization of our planned communities, establish regulations for making communities which are focused around their residents and cultivate community businesses
- Stimulating vital areas by proactively using the know-how and capital of the people, such as through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
Constructing a medical system that instills a sense of safety and peace of mind
- Fully developing the regional healthcare systems by promoting policies to ensure that there are doctors in local areas, to encourage sharing the burden of certain aspects of medical care through the spread of family drugstores and to build a cooperative healthcare system for each illness
- Creating widespread support for areas without doctors by implementing a remote medicine system and having visiting practitioners, as well as ensuring that medical institutions can be reached by public transportation, such as a community bus service
- Establishing a widespread emergency medicine system that ensures access to emergency medicine facilities through the arterial road network, the introduction of air ambulances and the thorough dissemination of information regarding the services of the fire department and medical institutions
- Strengthening countermeasures against infectious diseases like the H1N1 flu virus
Accessibility in the areas surrounding tertiary emergency medicine centers
Entry 120
Section Two: Creating a Beautiful and Comfortable Home for Forty-Two Million Residents
(5) Regional Planning Project Adapted to an Aging, Low-Birthrate Society—Creating Spaces where People from All Walks of Life Can Feel at Home
As a consequence of the realities of Japanese society, which is becoming increasingly elderly on average with a steadily decreasing number of children being conceived, we are faced with a host of problems on a wide variety of fronts, such as in the fields of medical care, social welfare and housing. In order to rise to the challenges posed by these issues, we are moving forward with the development of amenable communities and residential spaces which are well-disposed to the needs of parents raising children, and where all citizens, especially the elderly, may live in safety and comfort.
• The population of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area will begin to decline after peaking in the year 2010.
• While roughly twenty percent of the population of the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area was over the age of sixty-five as of the year 2005, this figure will increase to approximately thirty percent by the year 2025.
Details of Specific Approaches to be Taken
Child-Rearing Support, and Ensuring Children's Safety and Comfort
• Priority leasing when applying for public rented housing, sub-leasing of residential units owned by elderly citizens to households raising children, and the formulation of other such measures designed to provide multi-tiered residential support for child-rearing households.
• Preparation of nursery schools in conjunction with urban redevelopment or the rebuilding of public housing projects, or by utilizing empty retail shop spaces in the vicinity of train stations.
• Establishment of community child-raising support centers where parents of infant children may freely seek advice while interacting with other parents.
• Promoting job-seeking at companies incorporating tele-commuting and flex-time work systems.
• Providing children with after-school gathering places, such as by establishing after-school study sessions and after-school kids' clubs.
• Promoting policies designed to provide for the safety of children commuting to and from school, such as by laying down sidewalks along school commuting routes, encouraging community child protection through the formation of crime-prevention patrol teams, and installing lighting for children walking to or from school outside of daylight hours.
Typical sidewalk used mainly as a commuting route for school-age children. [photo caption]
Creating communities amenable to elderly residents
• Multi-tiered residential support, such as priority leasing when applying for public rented housing, and providing residences with services and amenities especially designed to suit the needs of elderly residents.
• Developing communities wherein elderly residents are protected and cared for through the establishment of social welfare centers such as community caregiving facilities, building welfare facilities in conjunction with the rebuilding of public housing projects, and inviting bids for similar construction projects; providing protective services which make full use of pre-existing local community networks; and working together with non-profit organizations and other groups to implement full-scale transportation services.
• Promoting the implementation of barrier-free “universal design” for transportation infrastructure, residences and buildings, and pedestrian spaces accessible by all.
• Installing yellow guide blocks in pavement for use by the visually impaired, and equipping restrooms with special facilities for those who have undergone ileostomy, colostomy or urostomy medical procedures.
Artist's rendition of an integrated complex featuring public housing projects and social welfare facilities [caption]
Rebuilt public residences [caption]
Local upscale apartment complex [caption]
Daytime Senior Activity Center / Nursery school facilities [caption]
Crosswalks for use by both cyclists and pedestrians must be kept sufficiently wide, and curbs fronting crosswalks must be made flush with the street [caption]
Revitalization of New Town
• Diversifying household and generational makeup through priority leasing for households with elderly members and households raising children, and building day care facilities in conjunction with welfare facilities.
• Promoting area management through cultivating personnel to carry out the revitalization of New Town, drawing up rules for urban planning to be carried out by residents and nurturing community businesses
• Actively incorporating PFI (Private Finance Initiative) approaches to create a revitalized, vigorous region through the proactive use of private sector acumen and capital.
Creation of a Safe and Secure Medical Care System
• Fully implementing a community medical care system by promoting policies aimed at allowing medical professionals to continue practicing within the community, promoting the efficient sharing of medical care duties by providing for more personal care physicians and neighborhood pharmacies, and creating a medical system which links individual hospitals into a wider medical care network.
• Pursuing broad-based measures to assist those who live in areas without medical care facilities nearby, such as by running community buses in an effort to guarantee transportation to medical institutions, and promoting the provision of “house call” mobile medical services and medical care to those in outlying areas.
• Establishing a broad-based emergency medical care system by thoroughly implementing a shared-information system for firefighters and medical institutions, introducing medical evacuation helicopter airlift services, and streamlining the network of main thoroughfares, all of which are designed to ensure access to emergency medical treatment.
• Enhancing response measures to new strains of the influenza virus such as the H1N1 swine flu.
Map of areas accessible from tertiary emergency medical institutions [caption]
[Box within illustration:]
Legend
[yellow square] Tertiary medical institution
[red line] High-speed expressway
[purple square] Less than 15 min.
[blue square] 15 to 29 min.
[gray square] 30 to 44 min.
[aquamarine square] 45 to 59 min.
[light blue square] 60 min. or longer
Entry 123
Section 2: Realizing an Attractive, Livable Region for 42 Million People
(5) Development Project to Adapt Communities Equitably to Population Aging and Decline
To address mounting problems in medicine, welfare, housing and other sectors brought on by a declining birthrate and aging population, the Tokyo metropolitan region will promote town and housing development that facilitates raising children and that enables not only the aged but all people to live in safety and comfort.
* Regional population will decline after peaking in 2010
* The percentage of aged people (65 years and older) in the region will rise from approximately 20 to 30 percent between 2005 and 2025.
Project Details
Child Rearing Support; Child Safety and Security
• Provide diverse housing options for households with children, such as prioritized entry into public rental apartments, and by creating a system in which housing owned by senior citizens is rented out to households with children.
• Set up day nurseries as integrated components of rebuilt public apartment complexes and urban redevelopment projects, and by repurposing vacant retail units near train stations.
• Provide venues where parents with infants or preschoolers can interact or seek guidance, such as community child rearing support centers.
• Motivate companies to implement telework and work-life balance initiatives.
• Provide environments in which children can spend time after school by organizing after-school classes and clubs.
• Improve safety and security during school commuting hours through proper construction and maintenance of sidewalks on routes to schools, community-based child supervision such as crime-watch patrols, and adequate nighttime illumination.
Example of newly maintained sidewalks used primarily as school routes
Strategies to Help Aged People Lead Worry-free Lives
• Provide diverse housing options by prioritizing entry into public rental apartments, and by increasing the supply of housing equipped with services for the elderly.
• Develop local assistance services for seniors by constructing nursing facilities and other welfare centers, integrating welfare facilities as components of public apartment reconstruction projects, providing supervision services using residential networks, and by enhancing transport services through cooperation with NPOs and other groups.
• Boost the application of universal design in transportation, housing and architectural structures, pedestrian spaces and other environments.
• Install and maintain tactile navigational aids on sidewalks for the visually impaired, ostomate-accessible toilets, and other aids.
Illustration: Integrated Development of Public Housing and Welfare Facilities
• Rebuilt Public Housing
• High-quality Rental Apartments
• Adult and Children’s Daycare Centers
Widened sidewalks with leveled surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists
Revitalization of New Towns
• Increase family and generational diversity in neighborhoods by prioritizing housing entry in favor of families with children or seniors, and by integrating the development of new day nurseries and welfare facilities.
• Stimulate civic involvement in local town management by cultivating leaders in town renewal, allowing citizens to take a major role in the drafting of community development rules, and by fostering businesses who take on local issues.
• Restore economic vitality to communities by utilizing private sector expertise and capital, as with PFI-related methods.
Constructing a Safe and Reliable Medical System
• Enhance regional medical care by promoting physician recruitment strategies, by increasing the number of primary care clinics and local pharmacies to balance the division of roles between institutions, and by developing a coordinated medical care response for each type of condition.
• Broaden service outreach to doctorless districts by providing dependable transportation such as community buses to medical facilities, and by promoting mobile clinics and telemedicine.
• Develop a far-reaching emergency medical system by amplifying information exchange between medical and fire institutions, by introducing medical helicopters, and by assuring access to emergency care through construction and maintenance of major road networks.
• Strengthen policies to control infectious diseases, such as new strains of the influenza virus.
Regional Accessibility to Medical Institutions that Provide Intensive Care
• Legend
• Medical Facility
• Highway
• < 15 minutes
• 15 - 30 min.
• 30 - 45 min.
• 45 - 60 min.
• ≥ 60 min.
______________________________
Notes:
1) The Tokyo metropolitan region is defined here as the area encompassing Tokyo city and the seven surrounding prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Yamanashi.
2) Community buses in Japan contrast with purely public or private bus systems in that a municipality contributes in some capacity to its private operation, often but not exclusively by subsidizing operational costs.
Entry 162
Section 2. Creating a comfortable and beautiful environment for 42 million people
5. An urban development initiative to meet the needs of a society with a low birth rate and an aging population
This initiative will meet the challenges accompanying a society with a rapidly advancing aging population and low birth rate, across all areas including medicine, welfare and housing. It will support families raising children and provide a safe and comfortable living environment for the elderly, and all members of society.
Notes
• The population of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area is set to peak in 2010.
• The proportion of the population over the age of 65 years will grow to 20% in 2005 and 30% in 2025.
Specific measures
Supporting families and ensuring the safety and security of children
• Establishing a multi-tiered system for families raising children by providing priority for publicly funded housing and the leasing of housing from the elderly by the government for subleasing to families
• Rebuilding public housing developments and city redevelopments to include childcare facilities and the allocation of vacant shops around stations for use as child care centers
• Establishing support centers for parents with young children allowing for informal interaction with other parents
• Helping business work towards telecommuting and a better work-life balance
• Ensuring a place for children after school such as after school classes and activities for children
• Implementing measures for the safety of children during travel to and from school such as the creation of walking routes in school zones, supervision by safety patrol groups, and ensuring well-lit areas
[Image] A walking route in a school zone
Creating a safe and secure living environment for the elderly
• Establishing a multi-tiered system for the elderly including priority for public housing and the promotion of housing with special services
• Looking after the needs of the elderly through establishing community welfare centers such as nursing homes; housing redevelopments which include or attract new welfare facilities; the use of local networks to care for the elderly; and transport services provided by NPOs
• Promoting universal design for public transportation, housing and other buildings, and pedestrian spaces
• Installing facilities such as tactile paving for the visually impaired and restroom facilities suitable for people with ostomies
[Image] Integrated public housing and welfare facilities
[Captions L>R] Public housing reconstruction
Daytime support center and day care center
High quality apartments
[Image] Ensuring ample space for bicycles and pedestrians and eliminating raised curbs on sidewalks
Revitalizing residential areas
• Diversifying households and age groups by giving priority for public housing to the elderly and families raising children; and attracting and establishing childcare and welfare facilities
• Promoting community self-management by developing skilled human resources to revitalize residential areas; creating guidelines for community-based town planning; and fostering community businesses
• Reinvigorating communities by actively applying the ‘know-how’ and assets of the citizens through activities such as Public Finance Initiatives
Creating a reliable medical system
• Implementing community-based medical systems by guaranteeing the number of doctors; improving the distribution of medical services due to an increase in family doctors and pharmacists; and developing a system of comprehensive care for the treatment of illnesses
• Ensuring transportation to medical facilities such as by community bus; and the implementation of wide-reaching measures such as visiting doctors or remote medicine for communities without their own doctor
• Providing a wide-reaching emergency medical system through comprehensive information sharing between fire and medical organizations; the introduction of a medical helicopter; and ensuring access to medical facilities through the road network
• Improving measures to deal with contagious diseases such as the HINI flu
[Image] Access to tertiary emergency care facilities
Key
Tertiary medical facilities
Expressways
15-30 mins
30-45 mins
45-60 mins
60 mins or more
Read more...
Nov 25, 2009
Finalists (English to Japanese)
The following five entries (#91, #114, #140, #141, #161) have made it to the final round.
Entry 91
高齢者を守るハリケーンへの備え
メアリー・D・デイビス著
ハリケーンシーズンに備える季節が再びやってきた。ハリケーンに備えるにあたって多くの人々が忘れがちなことの一つに、高齢者への対処をどのようにするかという問題がある。
高齢者は起こっている変化をはっきりと知ることができず、昨年、2008年にハリケーン「アイク」が発生した際、たくさんの高齢者が電力供給の停止や利用可能な公共サービスの欠如のために困惑した。ハリケーン発生時に身近な高齢者を保護するのに役立つ方法の一つは、備えをしておくことである。
以下に、役立つ手引きをいくつか挙げてみる。
１．大人用おむつなどのサニタリー用品、乳児用ウェットティッシュ（自分自身が使用することもできる）、手袋、必要な場合には介護用品などを用意しておく。
２．高齢者がいつも服用している薬を一か月分手元に持ち合わせておく。
３．ランタン型ライトと予備電池を確保しておく。ランタン型ライトは停電前と同じ明るさで部屋を照らし、手で持たなくてもよいため杖や歩行器を妨げる恐れがない。
４．エンシュア（缶入りの栄養補助食品）などの栄養補助食品を購入しておく。このような食品は保存がきき、状況による余分なストレスのために必要となるビタミンを多く含んでいる。
５．地方自治体に高齢者の情報を登録しておく。例えば、テキサス州ヒューストンは、「ハリス郡ヒューストン211特別支援交通登録所」（Houston-Harris County 211 Special Needs Transportation Registry）を設置している。記載された番号（211）に電話をして、高齢者の情報を登録する。これは当局者が特別なニーズを知り、必要とあれば援助を提供することを目的としたサービスである。国内の多くの地域でこのような登録所が設置されている。
６．緊急時に高齢者のために必要となる施設（透析医療センターや酸素供給会社など）の場所を確認し、緊急時の対策がどのようなもので、自分の身近な高齢者が受け入れてもらえるかどうかを調べておく。予備の計画は立てておいたほうが望ましい。
７．電動スクーターや電動車いすは稼動するのに電力を必要とするということに留意し、高齢者のために予備の手動車いすを用意しておくとよい。
８．トランプやボードゲームなどの気晴らしの道具を忘れない。このようなゲームは高齢者を夢中にさせ、暴風雨のことを一時忘れさせるのに非常に役に立つ。
言うまでもなく、上記に挙げた項目は、食料、水、電池、懐中電灯、電池式のラジオやテレビ、現金、応急処置セット、家族が災害時に必要とするものなど、日頃のハリケーン対策の備蓄に追加するものである。
常に忘れてはいけないことは、高齢者は普段と異なる状況に当惑する可能性があるということである。ハリケーンは間違いなく普通の状況ではないと言える。電気がないことに混乱し、荒れ狂う暴風雨に困惑するのは高齢者も同じであるため、思いやりと理解をもって接してあげること。暴風雨に関するどのような最新情報でも知らせてあげることで、高齢者は何が起こっているのか知ることができる。彼らも私たちと同様、ラジオから伝わる情報に関心をよせているということを忘れてはならない。
しっかりとした準備があれば、私たちにとっても高齢者にとってもハリケーンの恐怖は少し弱まるかもれない。
Entry 114
ハリケーン対策におけるお年寄りのケア
メアリー・D・デイヴィス
今年もまたハリケーン・シーズンに備える時期となりました。ハリケーン対策のうち、ハリケーン・シーズンにお年寄りをどうやってケアするかということは、忘れられがちです。
お年寄りは変化に大変不安を抱きます。昨年2008年のハリケーン・アイク上陸時に停電や公共サービスの停止が起こった際には、多くのお年寄りが大いに戸惑いました。事前に備えておくことが、嵐の間お年寄りを介助・介護するうえでの一助となります。
以下に参考となるヒントを記します。
1． 大人用オムツ、赤ちゃんのおしり拭き（あなた自身のためにも役立ちます）、介護用手袋などの失禁対策用品を買い備えておくこと。
2． お年寄りが服用している医薬品を1か月分手元に用意しておくこと。
3． ランタン型ライトと電池を確保しておくこと。この種の明かりはお年寄りが慣れ親しんでいる室内照明に近いうえ、手に持って運ばなくてよいため、杖や歩行器の妨げになりません。
4． エンシュア社製やその他の種類の栄養補給食品を買っておくこと。これらが便利なのは、日持ちがするし、重いストレスがかかる状況下で必要とされる豊富なビタミンの供給源となるためです。
5． 地方自治体にお年寄りを登録しておくこと。例えば、テキサス州ヒューストンではヒューストン・ハリス郡211特別支援移送登録という制度があります。決められた番号に電話を掛け、お年寄り登録してください。このサービスは当局が特別な支援の必要なお年寄りを事前に認識しておくことで、必要時に援助ができるよう制定されました。国内の多くの地域でこのような登録システムが整備されています。
6． 緊急時にお年寄りが必要とするような事業所（透析治療センターや酸素供給会社など）の所在地を見つけておき、その事業所がお年寄りを救う力を失った場合の緊急プランを確認しておくこと。代替プランを考えておいた方がよいでしょう。
7． 電動カートや電動車いすは、動かすのに電力が必要であることを忘れてはいけません。そのため、予備として手動の車いすをお年寄りのために準備しておいた方がよいかもしれません。
8． トランプやボード・ゲームのような、娯楽の類（たぐい）も忘れてはなりません。それらに熱中することで、お年寄りはしばらくの間嵐について忘れることができるからです。
もちろん、上記のアイテムは食料、水、電池、懐中電灯、電池式のラジオあるいはテレビ、現金、救急箱などの、あなたの家族が嵐の間に必要とする通常のハリケーン対策必需品に加えて備えておくものです。
お年寄りが日常から離れた状況に混乱しうるということを、常に覚えておいて下さい。ハリケーンは明らかに通常ではない状況と言えます。お年寄りもまた、停電に狼狽し、荒れ狂う嵐に混乱するということに、思いやりと理解を示さなければなりません。お年寄りにも知っている限りの最新のハリケーン情報を教えるようにして下さい。そうすることで彼らも何が起きているかを知ることになります。お年寄りもあなたと同じように、ラジオから流れる情報に関心を持っているということを心に留めておいて下さい。
あなたの、そしてお年寄りのハリケーンへの不安は、適切な準備をすることで少し軽減することができるのです。
Entry 140
高齢者のためのハリケーン対策
メアリー・Ｄ・デーヴィス
ハリケーンの季節に備えるいつもの時期がまたやって来た。ハリケーン対策の一環として忘れがちなのが、高齢者への支援方法である。
高齢者は変化を予期することが不得手であり、昨2008年のハリケーン・アイクの時には、停電や公共サービス停止により非常に混乱した人達が多かった。嵐の時に身近な高齢者の世話を容易にする方法の一つは、事前に準備しておくことである。
考慮すべき点をいくつかあげよう。
１．大人用おむつ等の排泄処理用品、ウェットティッシュ（これは自分でも使える）、手袋、その他身の回りのケア用品を蓄えておくこと。
２．１か月分の常用薬を持ち合せておくこと。
３．ランタン型のライトと電池を必ず用意すること。これは日頃慣れている明るさと同じ程度の室内照明となり、また手に持つ必要がないため、杖や歩行器の邪魔にならない。
４．「Ensure」等の栄養補助食品を買っておくこと。これが良いのは、長期保存が可能であることと、非常にストレスの強い状況で必要となるビタミンを大量に摂取することができるからである。
５．身近な高齢者の名前を地元の役所に登録しておくこと。例えばテキサス州ヒューストン地区には「ヒューストン・ハリス郡211特別搬送者登録制度」があり、これに登録するには所定の番号へ電話しておけばよい。このサービスは、役所が高齢者の特殊ニーズを把握し、必要な時に支援することができるように作られたものである。同様の登録制度は国内の多くの地域で設けられている。
６．非常時に必要となる可能性のあるサービス提供者（透析センターや酸素提供者等）の場所を把握し、停電で対応できない時の非常時対策を確認しておく。これにはバックアップ対応が必要である。
７．電動スクーターや車椅子には電気が必要であることを認識しておくこと。バックアップとして通常の車椅子を用意しておくとよい。
８．トランプやボードゲームのような娯楽用品を忘れずに。ゲームは没頭するのに良い手段で、しばし嵐のことを忘れさせてくれる。
もちろんここに挙げたのは、通常のハリケーン対策備品（食料品、水、電池、懐中電灯、電池で作動するラジオまたはテレビ、現金、救急用医薬品セット、その他嵐の時に自分達が特に必要な物）に加えてさらに用意すべき物である。
高齢者は、平常でない状況の時に混乱する可能性があることを常に念頭におくこと。ハリケーンはまさに平常以外に属する状況である。思いやりを持ち、高齢者もまた停電であれば平静を失い、荒れ狂う嵐により困惑することを理解すること。また最新のハリケーン情報は必ず伝え、現に起きていることがわかるようにすること。自分と全く同様に、高齢者もラジオから流れる情報には興味があることを認識しておく必要がある。
適切な準備をしておけば、自分にとっても身近な高齢者にとっても、ハリケーンは少し気楽なものになるはずである。
Entry 141
ハリケーン時の高齢者対策について
メアリ. D. デイビス
今年もハリケーンシーズンに備える時期になりました。ハリケーン対策のうち多くの人がおろそかにしているのが、シーズン中の高齢者ケアに関する部分です。
高齢になると状況の変化がなかなか飲み込めないもので、昨2008年に到来したハリケーン・アイクの際には停電や様々なサービスが使えず不十分な状態の間、ひどく混乱した高齢者が多く見られました。嵐の間高齢のご家族をケアする時に役立つ方法の一つは、備えておくことです。
検討に役立つヒントをいくつか紹介しましょう。
1. 成人用おむつ、赤ちゃん用おしりふき（赤ちゃん以外にも使えます）、グローブ等の排泄用品、その他家庭介護用品の備蓄。
2. 高齢のご家族の常備薬1か月分の用意。
3. 照明器具は必ずランタン型で電池とともに用意すること。ランタン型の照明は普段の室内照明よりも明るく、手に持たなくてもよいので杖や歩行器を使うときの邪魔になりません。
4. エンシュアなどの栄養補助食品の購入。こうした食品が非常に優れている点は、腐らないこと、ハリケーンによる極度のストレスのため大量に必要なビタミンを摂取できることです。
5. 高齢のご家族を地方自治体に登録。テキサス州ヒューストンの例をあげると、ハリス郡ヒューストン211特別移送支援登録制度（211 Special Needs Transportation Registry）というものがあります。指定された番号に電話をかけて高齢のご家族を登録しましょう。この制度は、当局が高齢のご家族が特別に必要とする支援を把握し、必要に応じて援助できるよう作られています。国内の多くの地域にこのような登録制度があります。
6. 緊急時に高齢のご家族が必要な可能性のある施設（透析治療センターや酸素供給会社など）を探しておき、その施設がご家族を受け入れ不能になった場合にどのような緊急対応策を用意しているか確かめること。予備案も用意しておくべきです。
7. 電動スクーターや電動車いすは作動に電力が必要なことを踏まえ、予備の普通の車いすも高齢のご家族用に備えておくとよいでしょう。
8. トランプやボードゲームのような娯楽になるものも忘れずに。高齢のご家族が夢中になりしばらくの間嵐を忘れてしまえる、気の利いた方法です。
当然のことながら、以上の品目は通常のハリケーン備品に加えて用意するものです。通常の備品とは食品、水、電池、懐中電灯、携帯ラジオまたはテレビ、現金、救急用品セット、その他嵐の間家族が使うと思われる必需品です。
高齢のご家族は、いつもと同じ状態にない間は頭が混乱している可能性があることを常に念頭に置きましょう。ハリケーンは紛れもなく普通の状態ではありません。高齢のご家族も停電に途方に暮れ、吹き荒れる嵐に頭が混乱していることを思いやり、理解しましょう。嵐について得た最新情報は必ず伝え、高齢者も状況を把握できるようにしましょう。ラジオから流れる情報に、高齢のご家族もまったく同様に関心があることを忘れないようにして下さい。
適切な事前対策は、ハリケーン時家族と高齢者にかかる負担を多少とも和らげてくれるでしょう。
Entry 161
高齢者のためのハリケーン対策
メアリー･D･デイヴィス
ハリケーン･シーズンに備える時期がまたやってきた。ハリケーン対策として忘れがちな分野が、ハリケーン･シーズン中の高齢者のケアだ。
高齢者は状況の変化に非常に戸惑うものだ。昨年、2008年ハリケーン･アイクが襲った時期、停電が起こり、水道やガスなども寸断されて不通であった際には、ひどく狼狽した高齢者が多かった。荒天時に高齢の家族を世話するあなたの負担を軽くする方法として、事前の準備が挙げられる。
以下の心得は役立つので検討してもらいたい。
1. 成人用オムツ、赤ちゃん用の使い捨てペーパータオル(これは自分でも使える)、手袋、その他の介護用品など、下の処理のための品々を買いだめしておく。
2. 高齢の家族の一か月分の薬を手元に置いておく。
3. ランタンのような照明具とバッテリーを必ず用意する。こうした照明具のほうが、高齢者が使い慣れた室内照明に似ているうえ、持ち運ぶ必要がないため、杖や歩行補助器の邪魔にもならない。
4. 「エンシュア」のような栄養補助食品をいくらか購入する。こうした食品は、腐らないうえ、常よりも大きなストレスのかかる状況下にある高齢者に必要と思われる各種ビタミンも豊富な点が優れている。
5. 高齢の家族を地元当局に登録する。たとえばテキサス地域のヒューストンには、ハリス郡ヒューストン211特別支援輸送登録制度がある。指定の番号に電話して高齢者を登録しておくものだ。これは、高齢者の要する特別支援を当局が把握し、必要に応じて援助してくれるサービスだ。アメリカには同様の登録制度を持つ地域が多数ある。
6. 緊急時に高齢の家族が必要とするかもしれない機関･会社(透析治療センターや酸素供給機器の取扱会社など)の所在と、その機関が高齢者を助ける力がない場合には、どういった緊急時対策を立てているかを確認する。代替策がなければならない。
7. 電動スクーターや電動車椅子は動力として電気が要るため、高齢の家族には予備の普通の車椅子が入用になるかもしれないことを銘記する。
8. トランプやボードゲームといった類の娯楽を忘れてはならない。高齢の家族の関心を引くのにうってつけで、しばらくの間は悪天候のことを忘れていられる。
もちろん上に列記した項目は、家族が荒天時に必要とするであろう食料、水、バッテリー、懐中電灯、電池式のラジオまたはテレビ、現金、救急セット、その他のハリケーン対策の必需品に加えて、ということだ。
常に頭に入れておくべきなのが、高齢の家族は非日常的な状況下では混乱するだろうということだ。ハリケーンは明らかに非常事態に分類される。電気がまったくないことで普段の判断力をなくしたり、ひどい悪天候のせいで混乱するのは高齢者も同様だという、思いやりと理解の心を持つこと。荒天に関して新しい情報を伝える際には必ず高齢者も加え、何が起きているのかが高齢者にもわかるようにすること。高齢者もあなたと同様に、ラジオから流れる情報に関心を持っていることを忘れてはならない。
適切な対策を立てておけば、ハリケーンは、あなたにとっても高齢者にとっても少しは楽なものになり得るのだ。
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