Photos: Japan’s dying elderly seek care at home | Hindustan Times
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Photos: Japan’s dying elderly seek care at home

Updated On Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

As hospital beds become scarce in Japan its elderly are increasingly turning to their homes in their final days. Though a rare practice in the self-effacing culture, prohibitive costs and availability have growing numbers seeking palliative care at home.

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Katsuo Saito, 89, who had leukaemia, uses an oxygen tube as he rests at his house in Tokyo. After being diagnosed with leukaemia in July, Saito decided to not seek treatment and opted instead for palliative care. He had a hard time finding a bed at a hospice or hospital, so he spent most of his remaining weeks at home. (REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Katsuo Saito, 89, who had leukaemia, uses an oxygen tube as he rests at his house in Tokyo. After being diagnosed with leukaemia in July, Saito decided to not seek treatment and opted instead for palliative care. He had a hard time finding a bed at a hospice or hospital, so he spent most of his remaining weeks at home. (REUTERS)

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Katsuo Saito's old family photographs are displayed in his room in Tokyo. Japan’s health officials predict a shortage of more than 470,000 hospital beds by 2030, as they become ever scarcer in an ageing society where one in four are over 65. In such a scenario, dying at home may become an acceptable option. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Katsuo Saito's old family photographs are displayed in his room in Tokyo. Japan’s health officials predict a shortage of more than 470,000 hospital beds by 2030, as they become ever scarcer in an ageing society where one in four are over 65. In such a scenario, dying at home may become an acceptable option. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Katsuo Saito holds a personal alarm button which can send an alert to a security company monitoring the aged. Spending one’s final days at home is a rare practice which few Japanese adopt because they feel hospitals are safer and don’t want to burden family members with caring for them. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Katsuo Saito holds a personal alarm button which can send an alert to a security company monitoring the aged. Spending one’s final days at home is a rare practice which few Japanese adopt because they feel hospitals are safer and don’t want to burden family members with caring for them. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Mitsuru Niinuma, 69, who has terminal lung cancer, is massaged by a therapist in his room which was decorated with puzzles, put together by Niinuma's grandson. The bed shortage stems partly from long hospital stays, which ran 16.5 days on average in 2015, a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development showed. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Mitsuru Niinuma, 69, who has terminal lung cancer, is massaged by a therapist in his room which was decorated with puzzles, put together by Niinuma's grandson. The bed shortage stems partly from long hospital stays, which ran 16.5 days on average in 2015, a study by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development showed. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Yasuda Toyoko, 95, who has stomach cancer and dementia, is helped by her daughter, Terada. Terada said she decided to take care of her mother because she believed being in hospital weakened her and worsened her dementia. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Yasuda Toyoko, 95, who has stomach cancer and dementia, is helped by her daughter, Terada. Terada said she decided to take care of her mother because she believed being in hospital weakened her and worsened her dementia. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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A banner featuring tips for staying healthy hangs on the wall of Katsuo Saito's room in Tokyo. Japanese national insurance provides individual hospital rooms only in exceptional circumstances, which can be too expensive for pensioners. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

A banner featuring tips for staying healthy hangs on the wall of Katsuo Saito's room in Tokyo. Japanese national insurance provides individual hospital rooms only in exceptional circumstances, which can be too expensive for pensioners. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Mitsuru Niinuma, pats his pet dog Rin at his home. He chose to stay at home in order to spend more time with his grandson and his beloved dachshund, Rin. “Home care allows people to use their abilities to their fullest for as long as possible,” he said. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Mitsuru Niinuma, pats his pet dog Rin at his home. He chose to stay at home in order to spend more time with his grandson and his beloved dachshund, Rin. “Home care allows people to use their abilities to their fullest for as long as possible,” he said. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Yuu Yasui, doctor and founder of Yamato Clinic, visits Yasuhiro Sato, at his house. “I think it’s good to have a doctor supporting people who choose to spend their final days and naturally face death in a place they spent their days living,” said physician Yuu Yasui. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Yuu Yasui, doctor and founder of Yamato Clinic, visits Yasuhiro Sato, at his house. “I think it’s good to have a doctor supporting people who choose to spend their final days and naturally face death in a place they spent their days living,” said physician Yuu Yasui. (Kim Kyung-Hoon / REUTERS)

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Yamato Clinic's doctor Shima Onodera examines Yasuhiro Sato, who had terminal lung cancer, the day before his death at his house in Tokyo. “It’s okay. I’m not a burden to anybody,” he said. “I will go to the afterlife quietly. Alone.” (REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Yamato Clinic's doctor Shima Onodera examines Yasuhiro Sato, who had terminal lung cancer, the day before his death at his house in Tokyo. “It’s okay. I’m not a burden to anybody,” he said. “I will go to the afterlife quietly. Alone.” (REUTERS)

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Yamato Clinic's doctor Sayaka Ogasawara checks Yasuhiro Sato's pulse as she confirms Sato's death. The statistics show more than 80 percent of Japanese prefer to die in hospital, the highest figure among 35 nations surveyed by the OECD. (Toru Hanai / REUTERS) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Nov 23, 2017 09:33 AM IST

Yamato Clinic's doctor Sayaka Ogasawara checks Yasuhiro Sato's pulse as she confirms Sato's death. The statistics show more than 80 percent of Japanese prefer to die in hospital, the highest figure among 35 nations surveyed by the OECD. (Toru Hanai / REUTERS)

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