[The Eve of Captain Sabo's Arrival] The Story of a Notebook That Saved Me in a Workplace with Zero Response

Hello everyone, this is Kim Tak.

Last time, I introduced my analog partner, "Captain Sabo." This time, I'd like to share the story of what happened before Sabo appeared on the scene—the story of a small notebook that became the starting point of my 15-year career in caregiving.

When I first started caregiving, I was neither good at nor fond of recreational activities. "It's my job, so I have no choice." That was my honest feeling.

I was first assigned to a department with many residents who had dementia or required high-level care. As a newcomer with zero experience, I wasn't even allowed to touch the residents for the first month; my only job was to lead daily exercises and recreational activities.

No matter how hard I tried, there was almost no reaction.

Every day, a part of my heart felt like it was slowly being worn away.

"Maybe I should just quit..."

But I had children and a family to support at home. I couldn't just give up so easily.

So, I decided to change my mindset.

"I'm going to try to enjoy these recreational activities in my own way."

Since my children were still small at the time, I would borrow picture books and paper-theater stories from the library and practice them in front of my children at home first. I would get permission from the facility in advance to try these things, and then put them into practice on the floor.

And that was when I started keeping a daily notebook.

I wrote down how the residents reacted. What topics made them suddenly smile. What "landed" well and what "flopped." Like a diary, I kept writing down every detail.

That accumulation of effort gradually began to change the workplace.

Staff members who had some free time started to quietly listen in on my paper-theater stories.

At home, my children started waiting for me, saying, "Daddy, tell us your paper-theater story again!"

And then one day, a resident who had been so unresponsive said this to me:

"Young man, that was interesting. Tell me again, I'll be looking forward to it."

I will never forget those words.

It felt like all those days of being worn down were rewarded in an instant.

Now that I have been working in nursing care for 15 years, there is something I feel strongly about.

Assisting with meals and excretion are important tasks. But they are also just "standard duties."

Finding the "purpose in life" or "something to look forward to tomorrow" for the users beyond that—I believe that is what true nursing care is.

"I wonder if that young man will do a paper-picture show for us again tomorrow?"

"I wonder if we can sing together with the ukulele?"

Such small expectations make every day at the facility much richer. I feel that they are definitely connected to dementia prevention and adding variety to daily life.

Of course, not everyone around me understands this.

"We're busy, what are you doing?" "You're just adding to our workload"—sometimes I hear voices like that.

Even so, the user right in front of me is happy.

That fact alone is what keeps pushing me forward.

Well...!

My introduction has become long again this time 😅

Finally, in the next installment, my partner "Captain Sabo" will appear at the nursing care site.

What kind of miracle did this character, who can only record for six seconds, cause? Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading until the end.

Kim Tak