高齢者住宅―「おひとりさま」を支える

2009/1/8

--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 7(IHT/Asahi: January 8,2009)

EDITORIAL: Senior-friendly housing

高齢者住宅―「おひとりさま」を支える

The Japanese people now boast the world's greatest rate of longevity, and their average lifespan continues to grow. The inevitable result of this trend lies in changes in how people spend their twilight years.

　世界一の長寿国、日本の平均寿命はますます延びている。そうなると老後の暮らし方も変わらざるを得ない。 

One example of this is where and how we live. From the era in which people normally dwelled with their children, the trend toward the nuclear family has produced a new generation that prefers to live away from their parents, who themselves prefer to live separately from their offspring. This shift is fueling projections for a steady increase in households comprised solely of senior citizens. The members of such family units will eventually grow old and feeble, with one of the partners passing away. The surviving members will naturally be plagued with doubts about their ability to continue to live as they have done.

　そのひとつが住まい方だ。子ども世帯との同居から、核家族化が進んだうえ親世代も同居を希望しないようになった。高齢者だけの世帯は今後増える一方と予測されている。 

　そんな高齢者世帯で、年をとって体がきかなくなったら、そして連れ合いが先に逝ったら、このまま同じ所に住み続けられるのだろうか。こころは不安に満ちている。 

For pensioners in rental accommodation, the cost of rental fees will emerge as an increasingly heavy burden. Even among those who own their own homes, with suburban and regional areas becoming so dependent on cars for mobility, older folks may come to regret living so inconveniently.

　賃貸アパートに住んでいる人は、年金暮らしのなかで家賃の支払いが一層負担になるだろう。 

　持ち家の人でも、郊外や地方ではすっかり車社会になっていて、不便を感じることがあるかもしれない。 

The bestseller status of the recent book "Ohitorisama no Rogo" (Seniors Living Alone) by sociologist Chizuko Ueno appears to reflect such underlying anxieties.

　社会学者の上野千鶴子さんが書いた「おひとりさまの老後」が最近、ベストセラーになったのも、こんな不安が背景にあるからかもしれない。 

Last October, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which is in charge of housing policy, instructed its Council for Social Infrastructure to advise it on the best approach to formulate housing policies for the elderly.

　住宅政策担当の国土交通省は、昨年１０月、社会資本整備審議会に高齢者の住宅政策のあり方を諮問した。 

The move indicates that interest in homes for the elderly, a genre of dwellings positioned somewhere between conventional housing and institutions, is on the rise at last.

　これまでの住まいと施設の中間にある高齢者住宅への関心が、ようやく高まってきたといえそうだ。 

Key advantages of such senior housing include the monitoring and livelihood support services provided for the residents. Such benefits counter the threat of even minor problems seriously hindering the everyday lives of elderly people.

　高齢者住宅のポイントは見守りや生活支援にある。高齢者だけでは、ちょっとしたことで日々の暮らしが立ちゆかなくなることも多くなるからだ。 

One example would be a situation where elderly people are unable to replace a burned out light bulb. Another would be tripping on a step, breaking a bone and being hospitalized; or in worst-case scenarios, dying alone.

　例えば電球が切れても取り換えられない。段差に足をとられて転び、骨折して入院などということもある。最悪の場合、孤独死もあるかもしれない。 

For many of those still able to live independently without nursing care, senior housing can ensure safety and peace of mind. In fact, such dwellings have been in trial use for more than 20 years.

　生活の自立ができていて介護はまだ必要ではない人に、安全と安心を保障するのが高齢者住宅といえるだろう。　実は高齢者住宅は、２０年余り前から試行されている。 

"Silver Housing" public accommodations, modeled after homes for senior citizens in Britain, provide one example of that approach. In this case, housing administrative authorities provide hardware features such as safe, barrier-free designs, while welfare administration furnishes the security benefits of having livelihood support officers stationed on the premises. The result was an epoch-making policy spanning the divisions between different government sectors.

　公営住宅の「シルバーハウジング」がそれだ。英国の高齢者住宅がお手本だった。バリアフリーの安全な住まいというハード面は住宅行政が、生活支援員の配置による安心というソフト面は福祉行政が提供する。行政の壁を超えた画期的な施策だった。 

However, the subsequent economic downturn and other factors have curbed the number of such dwellings being built, with only slightly more than 22,000 such units now available nationwide.

　しかし、その後の景気の低迷などで戸数は伸びず、現在、全国でわずか２万２千戸余りしかない。 

That supply was augmented through legal and other policy measures such as introducing high-grade rental residences for the elderly with subsidized construction and rental costs and enactment of a housing law for senior citizens. Nevertheless, limits remain on the availability of such low-priced and conveniently located housing that are so sought-after.

　その後、建設費や家賃の補助がある高齢者向け優良賃貸住宅や高齢者居住法など、法律や制度の整備は進んできた。だが、多くの利用者が望む安くて便利な立地の住まいは数が少ない。 

Access to safe and comforting senior-friendly homes enables the dwellers to remain self-reliant in their daily lives. This can also be expected to contribute to the nation's fiscal health by lowering nursing care expenses.

　安全、安心の高齢者住宅に住むことで、自立した生活が維持できる。介護費用の抑制につながり、国の財政に寄与することにもなるだろう。 

The home is the foundation of our livelihoods. Yet, there is no reliable model for housing to fully satisfy the needs of the elderly in a country with such unprecedented longevity. We need to confirm the accumulated achievements to date, and then pool our experience and wisdom to devise original and effective means of coming to grips with this pressing issue.

　住まいは暮らしの基本である。 

　未曽有の長寿国での高齢者住宅に、お手本はない。これまでの蓄積を検証して知恵を集め、独自のあり方をつくり出していこう。