T.O

Age:

90 years old (As of July 2019 interview)

Place of residence:

Toride City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Relatives living together:

Lives with child and grandchild (3 in total)

Occupation:

Former hairdresser and manager of a beauty salon

Diagnosis:

Alzheimer type

Using long-term care insurance:

Uses day services 4 times a week (2 facilities)

Past experiences

1949年(20)

From a nursery teacher at a Christian church, I went to a beauty college and became a hairdresser. I also did sculpture modeling.

1973年(44)

I ran 4 beauty salons. I also helped making rice balls at the mahjong parlor that my husband had started. I was living quite a hectic life.

2008年(79)

I fell down the stairs and broke a bone.

2010年(81)

My daughter noticed I did not remember that a house in front of ours had been lost in a fire.
My daughter felt something was not right because my recognition of the units of money was off. For example, I would ask her to send out 3 packages by courier and give her 500 yen, or ask to go buy some kerosene and give 80 yen.

Diagnosis

2011年(82)

T.O said that she did not want to go to the hospital because she had not needed to go for many years.
Her family said, "Let's go for a drive together," and 3 children took her to the hospital.
She was diagnosed with dementia but did not start taking medication because she did not accept that she had the disease.
She kept saying, even later, that she was taken to the hospital even though she did not have dementia and that she was set up by her second daughter.

2012年(83)

She started to talk with her customers about only herself, instead of conversing with them as part of the service.
It became difficult for her to talk with her customers at the beauty salon, and, at last, she invited some of her fans and performed her treatment to them for free.
She retired from her career as a hairdresser.

2013年(84)

A family member invited me to visit a friend of mine, A, and I experienced day services.

2014年(85)

I started to go to a day service. I was not conscious that I was forgetful.

2021年

Second daughter feels, "I am truly thankful for my mother. Having a mother with dementia has taught me a lot of things. Ever since I was young, she has always been someone I respect. I do not think that will change for the rest of my life."

Joy in life and living

1

Joy that remains with you even after onset

Drawing with beets and doing Japanese paper drawing

2

Joy that remains with you even after onset

Listening to music

3

Joy that remains with you even after onset

Traveling

Something you would like to do in the future

I want to continue living a healthy life.

Challenges in daily living

Physical and mental dysfunctions

Message to the society

I think things will only turn out how they are meant to, no matter what we think should be the way.