I encountered the quote of Mother Teresa the other day. Every single word of this short description touched my heart and gave me such a great encouragement for what I believe. I felt that this quote perfectly captured the importance of "aging in community" concept. I think it is the time for us to realize that "we must find each other..."
At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.' Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked for human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection.
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat . . . We must find each other.
Mother Teresa
8.10.2008
Is Elder Care a Social or Individual Responsibility?
Through working on the Sri Lanka project, I encounter a question that "Is taking care of elder a social responsibility or Individual responsibility?"
Since I have been living in developed countries such as Japan or USA, I tend to look at everything through "my own lens" which is based on what I have known through my life experiences. Talking with people who live and work in developing world, I was often embarrassed myself how narrow minded I became. For example, I was challenged by some people when I indicated that "developed world might fail to provide a quality of life for elders because we created an institution with medical model mindset." They said that "it sounds like an argument from the countries where they can spend time and abundant resources to discuss about the issue. In the places like Sri Lanka, people have to manage with what they can afford, and do not have a time and resources to so." When I heard these comments, I realized that my argument was constructed based on "what we have already have in the developed world where basic social system is put in place to look after elders, such as pension, social security, affordable housings, or residential care."
In the USA, Japan, or European countries, we tried to establish a social system to ensure that elders would be looked after as societal responsibility. In developing countries, however, elder care has been treated as individual/family responsibility because 1) traditional societal value of family care still remain as strong ethical responsibility, 2) their countries/society cannot afford providing elder care in the level that developed countries can offer.
I personally believe that we should always try to find a culturally appropriate balance between the two: Social and Individual responsibility. We should not forget that society consists of individuals, and individuals are part of society, and these two parts are inter-connected.
How can we find the balance between the two to provide a care that elders can live with dignity and happiness? I found it difficult to see "from users' point of views" because we have been unconsiously seeing our surroundings with "our lens." I would like to think further about this issue....
Since I have been living in developed countries such as Japan or USA, I tend to look at everything through "my own lens" which is based on what I have known through my life experiences. Talking with people who live and work in developing world, I was often embarrassed myself how narrow minded I became. For example, I was challenged by some people when I indicated that "developed world might fail to provide a quality of life for elders because we created an institution with medical model mindset." They said that "it sounds like an argument from the countries where they can spend time and abundant resources to discuss about the issue. In the places like Sri Lanka, people have to manage with what they can afford, and do not have a time and resources to so." When I heard these comments, I realized that my argument was constructed based on "what we have already have in the developed world where basic social system is put in place to look after elders, such as pension, social security, affordable housings, or residential care."
In the USA, Japan, or European countries, we tried to establish a social system to ensure that elders would be looked after as societal responsibility. In developing countries, however, elder care has been treated as individual/family responsibility because 1) traditional societal value of family care still remain as strong ethical responsibility, 2) their countries/society cannot afford providing elder care in the level that developed countries can offer.
I personally believe that we should always try to find a culturally appropriate balance between the two: Social and Individual responsibility. We should not forget that society consists of individuals, and individuals are part of society, and these two parts are inter-connected.
How can we find the balance between the two to provide a care that elders can live with dignity and happiness? I found it difficult to see "from users' point of views" because we have been unconsiously seeing our surroundings with "our lens." I would like to think further about this issue....
8.05.2008
People first or Design first?
I have spoken to my friend who is an industrial designer about designing a chair. During the conversation, he stressed the importance of "knowing how people sit in a chair." Learning about how people sit.... it is much more complex than one can imagine. It requires so much knowledge about people, material, art, culture, or lifestyle to create a simple "comfortable chair" for users. The height of chair and armrest, softness of seating, durability of material, coating of surface, and etc... When we start listing up all the possible considerations to design a "comfortable" chair, it may take countless number of pages to fill. It becomes even more complex when designing "a comfortable chair for general public," because nobody has the same body shape, preferences, and lifestyle.
"Understanding how we sit in a chair is the basic and most important skill to design a comfortable chair for people. The comfortable chairs can also be beautiful"
Through the conversation with my friend, I have learned that industrial designers aim to create products with the approach of "people first." How about designing long term care facilities? How much do we know about the life of elders, staff members, and visitors? Are we putting people first or design first?
"Understanding how we sit in a chair is the basic and most important skill to design a comfortable chair for people. The comfortable chairs can also be beautiful"
Through the conversation with my friend, I have learned that industrial designers aim to create products with the approach of "people first." How about designing long term care facilities? How much do we know about the life of elders, staff members, and visitors? Are we putting people first or design first?
8.04.2008
Interview with a wise man
I have visited an elder care home located in the beautiful site in Galle Sri Lanka. It was located on the top of the hill, and overlooks gorgeous ocean. I loved the feeling of fresh air, comfortable breeze, and peacefulness of the place. I would like to share the images of this home, and the interview with the person who operates this place.
Magnificent view of ocean from the elder home:
Building of this home:
Interview(1)-7:14min
I asked my driver to video tape our interview. Although he had a good intention to capture some interesting views, it just gave me a bit of dizziness... (you can still listen to our conversation which was quite intriguing.)
Interview(2)-9:42min
Magnificent view of ocean from the elder home:
Building of this home:
Interview(1)-7:14min
I asked my driver to video tape our interview. Although he had a good intention to capture some interesting views, it just gave me a bit of dizziness... (you can still listen to our conversation which was quite intriguing.)
Interview(2)-9:42min
8.03.2008
Power of Plastic Movable Chair
I discovered the magical power of "cheap plastic chairs" in long term care facilities in Sri Lanka. Most of the elder care homes had a front porch with several light weight plastic chairs. It seemed to be the most frequently utilized space by elders, staff members, and visitors.
Normally, chairs were neatly placed along the wall. When people came out to the front porch, they slightly adjust the location of the chairs and sat. I have observed that people were constantly adjusting their chairs to maintain their comfortable distance among others. The distance and configuration were also adjusted in different social functions. Because these chairs were light enough for elders with limited strength to move easily, everybody was able to find their most comfortable location in the area.
William Whyte found that providing movable chairs increases the peoples' usage of public open space in NYC. This time, I have witnessed that simple movable chairs gave a magical power to draw people into gathering space in rural Sri Lanka. It was quite amazing to learn that simple and inexpensive furniture like plastic chairs could help elders to make their own place.
"Place making..." can be a meaningful concept only when users are fully involved, which has been over-done by designers so far.
We have a lot more to learn...
8.01.2008
Beautiful People
I am so blessed to encounter such wonderful people in my life. Through this project, I had an opportunity to meet with Japanese persons with beautiful heart in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Ono works at IOM as an architect to design housings for the Sri Lankan who were displaced by the Tsunami incident. When I met him, he patiently listened to my idea about the elder care and provided me his insight based on his experience working in this country. When I shared my idea that “I strongly believe that we have so much to learn about social value of elder care from Sri Lanka”, he showed his interest and thoughtfully listen to my point view. Without his kind encouragement, I might have withdrawn from my passion to change the ways in which elders should be treated in Sri Lanka. Talking with him taught me how powerful it would be to "genuinely interested and carefully listen to one's story."
He arranged to have a dinner with his friends from JICA who provide services to elders in Sri Lanka. Ms. Kato coordinates various programs to improve the life of elders in Sri Lanka. She had such a wealth of knowledge about the elder care in this country, and generously shared her experience and valuable information with me. Her colleagues, who were volunteers from Japan, came all the way from Japan to provide their skills and knowledge to improve elder care homes. They go around elder care homes and work directly with elders and staff members on site. They had such positive attitude toward their work and elders they serve. Their professionalism and passion for their volunteer effort in developing country made me proud of being Japanese.
Coming to Sri Lanka reminded me how difficult it is to live in unfamiliar countries where language, custom, food, and hygiene condition are different from what we have been used to. It can be especially challenging to live in developing countries. However, these Japanese people have chosen to live in this condition to follow their passion and belief to change the lives of people in Sri Lanka. I cannot stop admiring their generosity.
Their genuineness touched my heart, and made this trip even more worthwhile for me.
Mr. Ono works at IOM as an architect to design housings for the Sri Lankan who were displaced by the Tsunami incident. When I met him, he patiently listened to my idea about the elder care and provided me his insight based on his experience working in this country. When I shared my idea that “I strongly believe that we have so much to learn about social value of elder care from Sri Lanka”, he showed his interest and thoughtfully listen to my point view. Without his kind encouragement, I might have withdrawn from my passion to change the ways in which elders should be treated in Sri Lanka. Talking with him taught me how powerful it would be to "genuinely interested and carefully listen to one's story."
He arranged to have a dinner with his friends from JICA who provide services to elders in Sri Lanka. Ms. Kato coordinates various programs to improve the life of elders in Sri Lanka. She had such a wealth of knowledge about the elder care in this country, and generously shared her experience and valuable information with me. Her colleagues, who were volunteers from Japan, came all the way from Japan to provide their skills and knowledge to improve elder care homes. They go around elder care homes and work directly with elders and staff members on site. They had such positive attitude toward their work and elders they serve. Their professionalism and passion for their volunteer effort in developing country made me proud of being Japanese.
Coming to Sri Lanka reminded me how difficult it is to live in unfamiliar countries where language, custom, food, and hygiene condition are different from what we have been used to. It can be especially challenging to live in developing countries. However, these Japanese people have chosen to live in this condition to follow their passion and belief to change the lives of people in Sri Lanka. I cannot stop admiring their generosity.
Their genuineness touched my heart, and made this trip even more worthwhile for me.
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