Chizu Isaka (alias)

Age:

90 years old (As of December 2019 interview)

Year of birth:

1929

Place of residence:

Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture

Relatives living together:

Single room (serviced residence for the elderly)

Occupation:

Former shipping company employee

Age of onset:

About 85 years old

Age of diagnosis:

85 years old

Diagnosis:

Alzheimer type
Dementia, decreased memory

Dementia rating scale?Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)
The most widely used screening test internationally for identifying dementia, in which questions are asked directly to subjects. The MMSE assesses cognitive functions with a series of questions/tasks related to orientation, memory, attention and calculation, language, giving commands and copying a picture. The test yields the highest score of 30 points, and, in general, those who score 23 points or lower are identified as suspected patients with dementia.Revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R)
A screening test widely used in Japan for identifying dementia, in which questions are asked directly to subjects. It has 9 questions/tasks related to age, orientation, immediate memory and delayed recall of 3 words, calculation, backward digit span, memory of 5 objects and language fluency. The test yields the highest score of 30 points, and, in general, those who score 20 points or lower are identified as suspected patients with dementia.
:

MMSE 20About (As of July 2019)

Using long-term care insurance:

Uses day services (half day) twice a week,
Cleaning, laundry and linen service once a week,
Bathing 3 times a week,
Home nursing once a week (for the last 2 years),
(Massage with medical insurance 3 times a week)

Past experiences

2003年(74)

After retiring from a shipbuilding company, I lived with husband, but he passed away early.
I walked all over Japan. Subsequently I lived alone in Tokyo.
I enjoyed taking morning walks and gathering with retired friends for tea at a coffee shop in front of the station.
I also interacted with trainers at a sports club and fostered community ties.
I invited people to my home and socialized with them.

2011年(82)

I went to Laos in connection with my assistance to an NGO. I volunteered at schools and other places to support children.

Diagnosis

2014年(85)

In April 2014, my son returned from abroad.
Around that time, I fell down and broke a bone. My legs were a little stiff, and my doctor told me that my memory was deteriorating although in a way normal for my age (mild dementia).
My son noticed that my memory was fading and considered relocating me to a place closer to his home, although I was living carefully because I was living alone.

2018年(89)

At the time of the relocation, I was wavering in the decision because I was anxious about living alone and also had some feeling of reluctance and resistance to leave my home, too.

2018年(89)

Although I had some hesitation about moving to a new place, when I went to see the serviced residence for the elderly near my son's house, I liked the free and open atmosphere with candy, cafeteria, and children coming in freely to study after school, rather than a "facility for the elderly," and I decided to move in.
I became able to have meals and take a bath. I got used to living in the residence.

2018年(89)

I failed to change residence registration and started using long-term care services at the serviced residence for the elderly at my own expense. (My care manager made necessary arrangements immediately.)

2018年(89)

I had some incidents, such as falling down and breaking three ribs.
Each time something happened, I worked with my care manager and reestablished my life.
The fact that my son's house was nearby gave me a sense of security.

2019年(90)

Although I need to be a little careful with the relationships with others at the serviced residence for the elderly, I find it comforting and relaxing to laugh with people in the administrative office. I do not want to leave this place, and I consider it as my final home.

Joy in life and living

1

Joy that you have given up

Going somewhere on a whim. That I went to Laos to help school children. I specialize in children.

2

Joy that you have given up

Talking with friends from my former hometown in Tokyo. I miss it because I do not have the opportunity to do so since I moved here.

3

Joy that remains with you even after onset

Drawing a pictorial diary on Japanese paper and fastening it in a loop. Drawing the dynamism of trivial things that happen daily before they fade away.

4

Joy that remains with you even after onset

My son's visits
(Once a week. Walking, shopping and driving. "I have respect for my mother's independent way of life.")

Something you would like to do in the future

I would like to write a book about my travels. It was rare to find Japanese women doing that back then.
I also want to chat with friends from my former neighborhood.
I want to continue walking on my own two feet.

Challenges in daily living

Physical and mental dysfunctions

Message to the society

On how to raise children. I think children have pure hearts, do not follow strange fads, and can have fights. But I told my children that they should not fight with those younger than them. The foundation has remained the same that I love children. In that sense, I think I have done all I can.
I do not mind if I die tomorrow. I had a weak body to begin with, but my life was such that I wish I could write a book about my travels.