著者

加藤 謙介

出版者

九州保健福祉大学

雑誌

九州保健福祉大学研究紀要 (ISSN:13455451)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.13, pp.1-8, 2012-03

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In this study, the relationship between pets and elderly people who need care was examined through a narrative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four elderly residents of Nobeoka City, Miyazaki, and with professionals who have the ability to support elderly people's caring for pets (i.e. a social worker, home-care workers, a pet sitter and administrative officers). The interviewer asked about the relationship between the elderly people and their pets, specifically about any benefits or difficulties in their daily life. The results of the interviews revealed that even those elderly people who had lost their pets linked their own life stories to their pets, structuring them according to their relationship with their pets. In contrast, the professionals often emphasized the difficulties for elderly people in caring for pets. The study suggests that we need to construct a social support network, in particular, a `narrative community' to listen attentively to elderly people's narratives as a way of supporting the relationship between the elderly and their pets.