Common traits of people who stay vibrant until the end, as seen by an occupational therapist who has attended to nearly 100 people in special nursing homes

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"Morishita got a hit."

When I said that, they smiled.

It was a few days before they passed away. They could no longer eat. They had pain in their limbs. But their hearing was still sharp. So, I played baseball games in their room as much as possible. Since they were a Hanshin Tigers fan, I would voice the progress of the game. When I said, "Murakami got the out," they smiled again.

This is what I consider to be a "person who stays vibrant until the end."

What does it mean to be "vibrant"?

It does not mean being perfectly healthy.

I believe physical vibrancy means maintaining one's quality of life (QOL). It is the state of being as independent as possible in the basic aspects of life—walking on one's own feet and enjoying meals with one's own mouth. It is difficult to completely prevent the decline and illnesses that come with aging. However, the flexibility to accept these realities and live one's daily life while managing them, rather than being pessimistic, is an important element of physical "vibrancy."

Mental vibrancy means maintaining curiosity and connections. Curiosity, which allows one to find joy and interest in small things, is directly linked to the vitality of life. People who have warm relationships where they can laugh with others and express gratitude are mentally very healthy and strong.

About a person who was vibrant until the end

It was the father of a classmate. While his limbs were becoming contracted due to Parkinson's disease, his cognitive functions were maintained to some extent.

In the morning, we talked about Major League Baseball. We talked about Ohtani and Yamamoto. We cheered for the Senbatsu High School Baseball Tournament together. We even cheered for the WBC at work. As a characteristic of Parkinson's disease, one's expressions inevitably become less animated and it becomes harder to speak. But it was different when we were watching baseball. Their smiles increased. They talked more than usual.

One week before they passed away, they suddenly stopped being able to eat along with pain in their limbs. I didn't know the cause. But their hearing was still sharp. So, I kept playing baseball games in their room. When I said, "Morishita got a hit" or "Murakami got the out," they smiled.

We did rehabilitation together for four years. For two years, we practiced walking together with a walker. Although they gradually became bedridden, they lived as themselves without anything changing. I believe that smile is the answer to what it means to be a person who stays vibrant until the end.

Common traits of people who decline quickly

On the other hand, there are also people who decline rapidly after moving in.

What they have in common isa lack of will to live. A state of having no curiosity, avoiding interaction with others, and just waiting for time to pass. Such people tend to decline relatively quickly, and their length of stay tends to be shorter.

Their spirit breaks before their body declines. That is what I feel from my experience in the field.

What the environment of a special nursing home gives to people

There is a term called "final residence." It is treated as home care. But for the residents, a special nursing home is not their true home.

The vast majority of cases involve moving from a hospital to a special nursing home. There is always some confusion about the change in environment. I have also seen many instances where dementia progresses as a result.

However, there are also those who chose to move in of their own volition. In a sense, there are people who live happily within a restricted kind of freedom.

I believe the important thing is not the special nursing home environment itself, but how the person themselves lives within that environment. How they live is their own challenge, and our job is to support them in that.

A changed view of life and death after attending to nearly 100 people

Everyone eventually dies.

Before working in a special nursing home, I experienced many cases of people passing away in hospitals. But it was only after I started working in a special nursing home that I began to feel death was close. Now, I no longer think of death as something terrifying.

If the final 1% for that person is happy, then perhaps their life was a happy one.

That is precisely why, even during the end-of-life stage, it is necessary to look closely at the individual. It was out of that conviction that I kept the baseball game playing.

What you can do now to 'age vibrantly'

I will give you the realistic answer I see from the front lines.

Build up your 'muscle savings.' Physical care is all about what you accumulate while you are young. It will manifest as an irreversible difference in your later years.

Live each day with a sense of purpose. Do not just live life as it drifts by; live with things you want to do. It doesn't have to be a grand goal. It could be supporting your favorite team. Small, consistent efforts lead to 'aging vibrantly.'

Ultimately, it comes down to physical and mental fulfillment. Having attended to nearly 100 people in special nursing homes, that is the conclusion I always arrive at.

Recommended reading and listening

Thank you for reading this article to the end. I have learned from many people on the front lines that 'being vibrant until the end' is not just about whether your body moves, but about a 'state of mind' that maintains curiosity and continues to connect with others.

If you currently have any anxiety or thoughts about your own 'future' or that of your family, these articles should also be helpful to you.

🌿 Thinking about 'old age' and the 'essence of how to live'

I have compiled 'ways to live without regrets' and 'hints for letting go of anxiety' that I have seen while experiencing the end-of-life care of nearly 100 people.

• 'The difference between people who are anxious about old age and those who are not, as seen in special nursing homes. What an occupational therapist who has attended to nearly 100 people wants to convey'

• 'If the final 1% is happy, then their life was happy: What an occupational therapist who has attended to 100 people in special nursing homes wants to convey'

• The difference between 'people who have regrets at the end' and 'those who do not,' as seen in special nursing homes

📖 For those who want to 'check their answers' on how they work and live (Kindle)

To live as yourself until the very end, the first step is not to burn yourself out in your current 'way of working' or 'daily life.' I have condensed the mindset I discovered over 16 years for surviving while staying kind into one book.

• Book: 'A Way of Working That Stays Kind and Doesn't Burn You Out'

🎧 Relax while listening (YouTube)

'I don't have the energy to read text right now...' On nights like that, try taking it in through your ears like a radio show. In a YouTube podcast format, I deliver stories about the mind, body, and ways of living.

• Kirinoha Official YouTube 'Occupational Therapist's Podcast'

The stretch pole I use and love every day

For 'muscle savings' and 'body care,' a stretch pole is indispensable.

As an occupational therapist, and because I have used it myself every day for over 10 years, I can recommend it with confidence.