By: Miko

Miko — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:55:15 +0000

I think the real reason that 86% of respondents “want to make caregiving a career” is that it’s a boom trade … let’s face it, you are never going to be out of work if you are willing to do the sort of job that nobody else wants to, and traditionally elder care is one of those jobs. One of the hugest changes I’ve noticed about Japanese society is the recent willingness of middle-class people – particularly daughters-in-law – to shove their parents into rest homes. This is something that would’ve been unthinkable even 10 years ago. I’ve also noticed that some people, especially married housewives, are willing to accept sub-standard care for their elders in return for some freedom and autonomy (I’m NOT judging them, I’m just commenting. For example, one of my closest friends visits her bedridden parents-in-law nearly every day in their government-run rest home. Sometimes she notices that their water bottles haven’t been refilled, or are even covered with mould, or that they aren’t receiving as much attention as they could from the harried, overworked staff. She really does feel sorry for her parents-in-law … but not sorry enough to actually take on the task of caring for them in her own home. The notion of “dutiful daughter” has really changed a lot recently.)

Comments on: Caregiving not the unemployment panacea the government hoped for

By: Miko