The last two years you can see more information about elderly care in Hongkong.
Before that only a few or less information about elderly care.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare have announced that from the “world life expectancy data 2017”, the longest life in the world for the last three years are Hong Kong’s men and women. These may have changed Hong Kong government and the private sector the way to think of elderly people.
My Japanese mother first landed in Hong Kong in 1964, she spends nearly 40 years in Hongkong. 10 years ago, we found my mother was very sick due to her old age. We tried to find an appropriate support for her in Hong Kong but could not, so finally decided to move her back to her home town, Fukuoka, Japan. This is how I have seriously concerned with Japanese elderly care.
Why we need elderly care service?
Because the change of family living and the medical evolution. We are now living in nucleus family, family with two generations different from chains family, with generation to generation living in a family.
The family cannot support the elderly and also elderly people have a longer life due to the advancement in medical care.
We need the government and the private sector to support the family for the elderly people.
The living style between Japan and Hong Kong is different, especially domestic helpers. The domestic helpers mainly support you to clean, wash and cook, they do not know elderly care. Japan has a national examination of “Certified Care Giver” since 1987.
What is Japanese Elderly Care?
There are Elderly Care in different country. Then what is Japanese Elderly Care? It is not easy to describe in one word but that is equivalent to “Japanese Heart”. Everyone has a heart but how do you use your heart is a big different.
For example, you have to take care of an elderly with slow movements of their hands and feet.
These two different supports can make a big different to the elderly people.
These days, we have to rely on machinery and artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence) to be efficient in life. Saving time, be convenient, is it really all you need in your life? I believe human interaction, humanity, things that are superfluous and other inconveniences matters are also important for us.
Japan is an island country and has its own unique culture and custom.
The way to cherish culture and nature, how to enjoy the season and people relationship in Japan may not be easy to be understood by others, but it will not be Japan if all things turn to convenient and be standardised.
My mission is to introduce Japanese Elderly Care to Hongkong, but we are not just bringing it over to Hong Kong. We will hear the voices of our clients then modify it and delivery it to suit the unique circumstances of our client.
The elderly care in some way contribute to the longevity in life.
Since the pass 50 years, japan has already been tackling the issue of aging society and gain tremendous experience and dealing with this issue and we can learn from them
Let’s share our knowledge of better living for our elderly family.
About the Author
Mamie H. Ogata
Principal of OEUF Limited
Born in Hong Kong and educated in Tokyo. Returned to Hong Kong after eight years in Shanghai. Family’s background in medical, change her profession into Elderly Care after 20 years spent in architecture. An entrepreneur who introduces Japanese Elderly Care to Hong Kong from a different perspective. With partnerships in Japan and Taiwan.