Mr. Uchibori (left) and Ms. Fujii who turned back in front of her favorite coffee shop (photo courtesy of Ms. Shirataki)
Akira Fujii (pseudonym, 83), whose physical condition was deteriorating rapidly, lives alone and has stage 4 lung cancer. We will introduce a case where a caregiver was responsible for Fujii's nighttime attendance and end-of-life care, and supported "a home alone death" by working together with a visiting nurse. ■ "I want to spend my time at home until the end." Keiko Uchibori (52), a home-visit nurse, says that depending on the condition of the patient, there are times when it is necessary to have someone to fill in the gaps in medical care. "This is because the time we can stay at the client's home is limited. Mr. Fujii often called me at night because of the unbearable pain and anxiety. I was able to clearly feel my wish.”
Fujii's hope is to stay at home until the end. Uchibori thought her end of life was near, and wanted her to spend the rest of the week or two in peace at home. It's the end of August 2021. Therefore, Uchibori thought that Fujii should sign a new dispatch contract with Kimiko Shirataki (56), a former nurse and caretaker, who would accompany her at night. If so, it can also deal with pain at night, including psychological aspects. While working as a nurse, Uchibori obtained a nursing care qualification. In May 2021, in cooperation with her husband, who is a practicing doctor, she opened the Uchibori home-visit nursing station “Sakurano” in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture. Then, Shirataki signed a consignment contract for the end-of-life care service with "Nagoyaka Aichi", a end-of-life care station represented by Shirataki. This is the first attempt in the country.
