The meaning of dementia

Ayumi-sama

This is Kawaguchi Hidetoshi. This is my humble answer to the question.

Difficulties in nursing care settings... I think the government should firmly respond to social security system issues related to nursing care insurance and nursing care rewards, and further improvements in treatment for nursing care workers should also be made.

Now, I would like to explain that in Buddhism, everything in this world is always made up of causality (cause and condition).

Therefore, of course, it is thought that “dementia” also develops when various conditions overlap due to physical function, especially brain function.

Life expectancy has been extended due to the development of medicine and medical care, but there are places where I think...

We too may eventually get dementia, and it's not someone else's problem...

In any case, it may mean that no one can escape the basic suffering of life, old age, illness, and death... it means “all suffering” and “all suffering.”

Buddhism is the teaching to somehow move away from this world of suffering and confusion. I would be grateful if you could take this opportunity to continue your studies.

From here on, it's a bit difficult, but it is said that our consciousness has a rough level of consciousness controlled by the body and a fine level of consciousness that is not affected by the body.

The rough level of consciousness, which has been controlled by the body, can no longer be helped along with the collapse of the body, and this is the same for people with dementia, but it is thought that it is possible to work in various ways toward a fine level of consciousness as consciousness that persists even after death.

Aiming at that fine level of consciousness, even if it is not a Buddhist effort, it is possible to encourage a good transformation in the fine level of consciousness if you can give them kind words, worry, and consideration, and be able to promote good transformation at a fine level of consciousness, and even for a good destination after death, I think it would be very appreciated.

Kawaguchi Hidetoshi Gassho

　Do you work as a caregiver? It's painful to be told words that would hurt people with dementia.
Demand for nursing care jobs is expected to increase more and more from now on, yet treatment is poor. Continued night shift. Low rewards. I think it's really painful. Even though it's an important job, I feel that maintenance hasn't caught up with this job yet. As you said, I think the shortage of nursing care workers will become even more serious at this rate.

Well, I wonder why they get dementia. No one gets dementia because they like it, right?
There is a word “suffering” in Buddhism. This “suffering” does not mean “painful,” but “not going the way you want it to.” Dementia is also probably “something that doesn't go the way you want it to” for the person himself.

Have you heard the term “old kid”? It seems to mean that people return to being children when they get older. Dementia is the ultimate “old child.” People who say painful things may have had terrible feelings when they were little. Maybe I wasn't able to say what I wanted to say. Maybe it's coming out now. Maybe they are relieving the stress of childhood. With that in mind, these words are just sounds! It's a childhood scream! I thought, and I have no choice but to accept that word and pass it on.
They look like old people, but I think what's inside is an innocent child, and it would be nice if I could be close to the elderly on an equal footing as a single person without seeing them as “weak people.”

I'm sorry for not being able to give a clear answer.

Why is there dementia, why is there such an end... in other words, it's not worth living if you have dementia, right?
I understand how you feel. It would be a lie to say that you don't think, “If I were to live in such a state, I'd be better off dead.”
However, being born, getting old, getting sick, and dying is also a path you can't escape.
Nor can you choose the type of illness. It's painful.
I think the person suffering from dementia will also have a hard time.
What does it mean to not be able to live the way you want.
It's not like I can do anything because I'm unaware. It's about humans, so that's not the case, but I try to think “meeting this kind of person was a necessary relationship for me.”
I don't think we should stay this way about a society or family that leaves it up to others.
As an aside, the combined annual income of the couple from our temple is 3.3 million.
There are more sad stories than fun ones, and there are also painful ones. I don't think it should be destroyed by turning it into a temple that can support everyone even if they are poor. No matter what kind of work... it's difficult.

“Don't scold kids, this is the way you've come. Don't laugh at old people, this is the way to go. Don't regret the road you've come, it's a road you can't go back to.” Do you know the word?
This is a very Buddhist saying that you should look back at yourself as you are.
When I read Ayumi's question, I was able to take it as if she felt sorry for dementia patients and that she didn't want to be that way. In addition, it seems like they are being abused and abused by dementia patients, and they think it's an unworthy job.

So I'm sorry to say that dementia is an illness. It's not like the patient himself wanted it to happen, and it's not like they hate Ayumi and go on a rant.
Even if no one wants to get sick, life is something they have to do. The Buddha explained that life, old age, illness, and death are the root of suffering.

I understand how difficult nursing work is. But then why did you get a job as a caregiver? Wasn't it to help humans in order to live (die) like humans?

Even if they are violent patients, they may have been very kind and compassionate before they became ill. The dignity of a patient's life up to that point is by no means OK for dementia to be impaired.
I'm “sick” because I can't do anything on my own.
If the patients Ayumi sees every day are “weak people,” then I, who must follow them, are also “weak people.” If weak people don't support each other, humans can't live. Caregivers are working hard at the forefront, so I think it's kind of difficult. Therefore, I think it is best not to be swayed by the patient's words and actions, and to pass it on as a professional. Ayumi's dignity is also not something that can be damaged by dementia patients.
I saw thank you. I'm sorry that the couple gave a bossy answer even though they didn't understand anything about the nursing care scene. Labor shortages go beyond national and local government issues, and are a problem for society as a whole. I want something to be done soon.