Good morning 0129

 It has been a while since I last updated my diary.

The bathroom and washroom renovations are finally finished. A few unexpected things came up along the way, but well, it couldn’t be helped. We went over budget, but I’m really glad we did it.

Yuki is already taking a bath using the handrails. Yes, Yuki has been discharged from the hospital. His oxygen saturation still doesn’t reach 95, and he gets short of breath more easily, but he is in good spirits.

After these repeated hospitalizations, we decided to apply for long-term care insurance. Today, a staff member from the city office is coming to observe our daily situation. We were told that it usually takes about a month before the formal assessment, but thanks to his illness, the process is moving faster. It’s a strange feeling.

Tomorrow we’re going to the hospital again, including having his stitches removed. I wonder what the next steps in his treatment will be.

So many things are happening at the same time that my head feels completely full.

About Japan’s long-term care insurance 

In Japan, we have a public long-term care insurance system. Basically, everyone starts paying into it once they turn 40.

If you’re 65 or older and officially assessed as needing some help or care, you can use the service for almost any reason. People aged 40–64 can also use it, but only if their condition is caused by certain age-related illnesses.

When you apply, someone from the city office comes to check your daily situation, like how well you can move or manage everyday tasks. After that, they decide a care level, and you can use services like home helpers, day care, renting care equipment, or even making changes to your home—like installing handrails or removing steps—to make it safer and easier to live in.

It’s meant to support both the person who needs care and their family, which I think is really helpful.