Time Taken Without Rush Brings Hearts Closer: The Care of "Leisure" That Only Caregivers Can Provide

Today is July 3rd. It is "Soft Serve Ice Cream Day."

This anniversary was established because it was on this day in 1951 that soft serve ice cream was first sold in earnest in Japan.

Soft serve ice cream is not something to be eaten in a hurry.

It is precisely because you savor it slowly that you can feel its sweetness and deliciousness.

In fact, there is a similarity to how we interact with people.

In the field of nursing care, we are often chased by time, but taking just a moment to stop and be by someone's side can lead to a sense of security for the user.

Today, I would like to think about the important meaning that "time without rushing" holds.

Now, to the main topic.

Caregivers have a lot of tasks to handle every day.

Meal assistance.

Excretion assistance.

Bathing assistance.

Documentation.

Shift handovers.

That is precisely why there are times when you feel like you "must finish quickly."

Of course, efficiency is important.

However, for the user, it is often "how they were interacted with" rather than the speed of the support that remains in their heart.

Today, I would like to think about the peace of mind that "leisurely interaction" creates.

　In the caregiving field, we often hear the phrase "there is no time."

　Being busy is by no means a bad thing.

　It is also proof that you are working hard for the sake of the residents.

　However, when busyness continues,

　Time to make eye contact.

　Time to listen to stories.

　Time to laugh together.

　Such casual interactions can sometimes decrease.

　Caregiving is a job that supports daily life.

　That is precisely why time spent being close to someone's heart is also an important form of care.

　After assisting with a meal, T was asked by a resident,

　"Could we talk for a little while?"

　They were asked this.

　With other tasks waiting, T hesitated for a moment.

　Even so, T sat down in a chair and decided to listen for just a few minutes.

　The resident happily talked about memories of a family trip from long ago,

　and finally said this.

“Today was a good day.”

T thought to themselves.

It wasn't that any special support was provided.

They had simply talked together.

Even so, those few minutes had become a precious time for the user.

They felt once again that caregiving is also about spending time together.

In caregiving, 'Person-Centered Care' is highly valued.

Being person-centered is not just about the content of the support.

It also includes respecting that person's pace.

Do not rush them.

Listen to what they have to say until the end.

Wait in tune with the other person's feelings.

Interactions like these give the user a sense of security.

Furthermore, in dementia care, 'waiting' is one of the most important forms of support.

By having just a little more room in their hearts, staff enable users to spend their time feeling secure and being themselves.

The quality of care cannot be measured solely by how quickly one moves.

How much one has valued the other person's time is also an important measure of quality.

When working in caregiving,

"Do it faster."

"Be more efficient."

There are times when you are asked for these things.

But what remains in the hearts of the people we support is,

The time we spent laughing together.

The time we spent listening to them slowly.

The time we spent by their side without rushing.

If you had even just a few minutes today to face the person you are supporting at a leisurely pace, that time was by no means wasted.

Those few minutes might have been the most reassuring time of the day for them.

Caregiving is a job where it is important not just "what you did," but "what kind of time you spent together."

Thank you very much for your hard work this week as well.

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Thank you very much for reading until the end today.
I am sincerely grateful that you took your valuable time to read this.
May today be a calm and warm day for all of you.

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