Everyone has their time.
For everyone, the time comes to meet the end.
There were days when I was in a bad mood in the morning and thought, "I should stay away today." However, when it was past noon, he showed me a gentle smile. There was such a user.
It was a casual day.
Eat, watch TV, and sometimes laugh at jokes.
However, from one day a little change begins.
The amount of food is reduced.
It becomes difficult to stand up.
It s hard to move to a wheelchair.
What I was able to do until yesterday is gradually becoming impossible.
And before I knew it, it was a day to help with meals in bed.
I want you to eat a little more.
I want to see you smile again.
I help with such a wish.
However, that time does not last forever.
Eventually, they sleep more, respond less to calls, and remain asleep.
Sad.
No matter how many years you have been a nurse, you will never get used to it.
But we still have to watch until the end.
Holding hands, calling out, and paying respect to the life that person has walked.
Guys, the time comes.
It is an inevitable reality.
A caregiver is a job that supports someone's daily life and at the same time it is a job that is close to the end of life.
That's why I think "good morning" every day is important.
The smile you showed me today is never natural.
I will never forget meeting that smile.
介護の現場では、誰しも避けがたい「最期」という瞬間に直面します。認知症の方々のケアに携わるなかで、日々の生活の些細な変化を見逃さず、できる限り本人の尊厳を守りながら支えることが重要だと感じています。 例えば、朝は機嫌が悪くても昼過ぎには笑顔を見せてくれる利用者様の存在は、介護士にとって大きな励みです。しかし徐々に食事量が減り、自力での立ち上がりが難しくなり、やがてベッドでの介助が中心となっていく変化は悲しくも現実的なものです。こうした段階を、決して慣れで割り切ることなく、毎回心を込めて見守ることの大切さを実感しています。 私自身も、介護の仕事を通して“毎日の「おはようございます」や笑顔がどれだけ貴重か”を改めて学びました。最期までの時間、手を握り、声を掛けるというシンプルながらもかけがえのない行為は、本人と介護士の間に深い信頼と安らぎを育みます。 さらに、認知症ケアでは身体的な介助だけでなく、感情面のフォローも不可欠です。認知機能の低下により混乱や不安が増す中、穏やかな声掛けや環境づくりにより安心感を与える努力を続けています。 介護は単なる仕事ではなく、人の人生の最後に寄り添う崇高な役割です。介護士として働く中で体験した日常の変化や心の動きを共有することで、多くの方に介護の現場の実態と、そこで感じる尊さを伝えられればと思います。
