The Significance of Support for Ikigai Shugyo of Long-term Care Insurance Services Users: An analysis of a life story from a director of a daycare facility up until the point when supports were commenced

Abstract

‘Ikigai Shugyo’ is a system in Japan whereby the elderly engage in work for the purpose of finding ikigai (motivation). The purpose of this study is to examine the experience of practitioners who support the employment of long-term care insurance service users - the kind of experiences which make them realize the need for employment support. Additionally, the need for such a support was analyzed on the basis of a life story. The director of a daycare facility who was experienced in providing support for ikigai shugyo was interviewed. On the basis of the interview, her life story was constructed. Analyses of the results revealed a problem in the field of daycare, which is an elimination of their position as a subject and is difficult to clearly identify. It is suggested that supporting the ikigai shugyo of daycareinsurance service users is significant in supporting users who have difficulty gettingopportunities to carry out their desired activity because of an elimination of their position as a subject and is difficult to clearly identify.