Day of Appreciation for the Elderly

Today is the Day of Appreciation for the Elderly. At our local grocery store, there is an exhibition of pictures that children drew of their grandparents. This store displays pictures for Mother's Day and Father's Day, too. Other stores around town display them, too.

Today is a day of gift giving. Flower arrangements are sold, too.

In Memory of Our Garden's Gardeners

Great-grandfather loved plants. He spent most of his time taking care of his garden. He made his own compost and his plants were healthy. There was always something blooming. Great-grandfather lived until he was 90 years old. He passed away over 12 years ago.

Grandfather, his son, then inherited the garden. He wasn't an enthusiastic gardener, but he enjoyed creating a display of morning glories outside the gate every summer. He watered all of the other plants when they needed it. He passed away three years ago. Now I have inherited the work in the garden. It is a lot of work.

These chrysanthemums were in that white container for many years. They have been outside our garden gate, but they are ours to take care of. Sadly, they have been neglected. There were some candy wrappers and an old tennis ball left in them. Even so, they continued to bloom.


They weren't doing well. Grandmother suggested we throw them away. They have been here for so long. Great-grandfather planted and took care of them. Grandfather watered them. I thought I would repot them. I decided to do it before Appreciation for the Elderly Day (today).

I hope they do better now. I don't make compost, but I do my best. Here is what they look like today. They look better, but I wonder if they will bloom this fall. I separated and cut them back a lot.

For the Elderly

Tomorrow is Grandparents' Day in the States. Japan has its Day of Appreciation for the Elderly on the 18th of this month. Not all grandparents are elderly. Here are some things that would make life easier for those who are.




These are shopping carts that have seats. The wheels lock so Baba (Granny) won't roll down the street as she sits down. Most people ride bikes or drive cars and carry groceries home that way. Some of us walk everywhere we go. Older people use these carts. I use a cart when I shop. A neighbor laughed and called me "Granny" when I first used my cart. It doesn't look like these, though. These carts are for people much older than I am. I have seen really, really old people do their own shopping with these.




You've probably seen these. One is a shower stool and one is a shower chair. There is also a toilet in this picture. There are other toilets in the picture below. Most of these would have to be emptied. The one on the left fits over a regular toilet.



P.S. You may want to look at the post for July 4th, 2006. Tokyo Gas visited Little Brother's school. They held a workshop to show the students what it's like to be old. Do a search of my blog and look up "School Days: Visit from Tokyo Gas".

School Days: Visit from Tokyo Gas

I went to observe and take pictures of an activity at my son's elementary school yesterday. It was organized by representatives from Tokyo Gas. Each fifth grade class went to the gym at different times during the day. They had to take long pants and a long sleeved shirt to change into before the activity. They changed in the classroom.

Black suitcases were on the floor as we all went into the gym. The students sat in pairs on the floor at a distance behind the suitcases. The speaker explained that they would take turns experiencing what it would be like to be elderly. They would take turns being an elderly person and a guide. Everyone then moved next to a suitcase. The speaker asked two students to go to the stage to help demonstrate. She directed everyone on how to put on the contents of the bag. A PTA member assisted each pair of students.

First, the guide wrapped weighted straps around his partners' right foot and leg. Then he and the PTA member helped him put on plastic gloves, then cotton gloves and then a cotton half glove. Afterwards, he had to put on a vest by himself. They helped him adjust thick googles and earplugs in his ears. They handed him a cane. Then the guide escorted him to different stations set up around the gym.

At one table, "the elderly person" had to look something up in a thick, heavy dictionary. He read from a newspaper at another table and had to write his name at another.





A cassette player was set up for him to see what it was like to try to listen to something when hard of hearing. He had to count coins and pick them up and place them in a basket. He climbed the steps of the stage, walked across mats, and then down again.

He opened and poured water from a big water bottle.




He also stood in front of this bulletin board to try to figure out how many figures there were on each paper. The glasses made it hard to see.



It was a great activity. All of the students were engrossed. Everyone paid attention. No one misbehaved. My son said later that it was very interesting. I asked him what he had learned and he said that it was hard to do things when you're old. I asked him why it was important to know that. Maybe you have some ideas about that, too.