「私も一役、高齢化社会」をモットーに生きる

　現在、一人暮らしの高齢者数は全国でおよそ563万人で、 内訳は男性が180万人、女性が約383万人で、女性が男性の2倍以上と言われてます。

　実は、私もその一人で、今のまま肉体的、精神的に健康を増進・維持し、施設に入らず、年齢を重ねても自らの夢に向かって生き、社会に好奇心を持ち、身の回りのことは自ら行い、ずっと我が家で暮らす強い意志を持ってます。

　今日は９月の第三月曜日なので敬老の日です。老人福祉法では６５才以上を高齢者としてますが、現代の６５才はまだまだ若々しい方が多く、嫌がる場合は無理にお祝いしない方がいいでしょう。人によっては私のように「年寄り扱いされたくない」人もいるでしょう。

　７８才以上の高齢者は、現在のウクライナのように厳しい戦争を体験され、敵機Ｂ29爆撃機が上空に現れると空襲警報のサイレンが鳴り、防空壕の中で辛い生活を余儀なくされました。また、戦後の食糧難を体験され、その後は、長年に亘り社会のために働いてきた方々です。大切なことは、今の社会の礎を築いてこられた高齢者を敬い、日頃の感謝を伝えることに重きを置きたいものです。

　そして、「私も一役、高齢化社会」を合言葉に、身近な高齢者のために日々温かい言葉をかけ、お手伝いしたいものです。

Dear my friends abroad who respect the elderly to the core

　Currently, there are approximately 5.63 million elderly people living alone nationwide, of which 1.8 million are men and 3.83 million are women. Therefore, it is said that women are twice than men.

　In fact, I am one of those people, and I want to improve and maintain my physical and mental health, stay out of institution, live toward my dreams even as I get older, be curious about society, and take care of my surroundings. I take care of myself and have a strong will to stay in my home forever.

　Today is Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, as it is the third Monday of September. According to the Elderly Welfare Act, people aged 65 and over are considered elderly, but many 65-year-olds today are still quite young, so if they don't want to be celebrated it, it's probably best not to force themselves to celebrate. Some people, like me, may not want to be treated as old.

　Elderly people over the age of 78 have experienced harsh wars such as those in Ukraine today. The enemy B-29 bomber appears in the sky and the air raid siren sounds, people including children were forced to live a difficult life in air raid shelter during world war Ⅱ, experienced food shortages after the war, and have worked for society for many years afterwards. The important thing is to respect the elderly who have built the foundation of today's society, and to place emphasis on our daily gratitude.

　And, with the motto "I too can play a role in the aging society," I would like to speak out to the elderly people around me and help them in daily life.

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