1 INTRODUCTION
Most people, regardless of their ages, desire to live in a place they
know. [1][2][3] By living in a town they know, elders gain a
sense of independence, dignity, and a better quality of life. Although
living arrangements can be impacted by disasters or illnesses,
”aging-in-place” is an important public health goal.[4]
Many elderly people desire to live independently in a familiar area.
However, until recently, people believed that elderly persons needed
support from their immediate families, so they could live with autonomy.
Recently, communities based on blood ties have weakened, and alternative
types of support are being explored. [5] To address the serious
issues of social isolation and lonely deaths among the elderly,
community housing options such as rowhouses and apartments have been
attempted and reported as effective.[6] [7]
Social isolation and lonely deaths are serious problems, particularly in
an area that has been hit by a natural disaster.[8] In 2011, the
Great East Japan Earthquake caused massive tsunami damage to Soma, a
city of 37,000 people, located 45 km north of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Plant. Many of its residents lost their homes, and families were
forced to evacuate to temporary housing. The city has seen its
population declining and aging over the years; in 2020, population aged
65 and over was 31.0%.[9] The city has placed the highest priority
on the reconstruction of the lives of its residents. In light of that,
Soma Idobata-Nagaya (rowhouse) was built as public housing to
meet the needs of older adults living alone and individuals with
disabilities.[10] The housing project intended to respect the desire
of its residents to live in a familiar place, while nurturing mutual
support among them and promoting healing after the disaster.
Generally speaking, research on efforts to achieve aging-in-place in an
area affected by a natural disaster has not been attempted.
Additionally, the type and amount of care an elderly person receives in
the case of a medical emergency in this type of living arrangement has
not been investigated. This report describes a woman in her 80s who
chose to live independently in a rowhouse in a familiar community with
residents she had known before, rather than with her own family, after
the tsunami disaster. In the end, she passed away because of an acute
illness while being cared for by people whom she knew. This report
demonstrates that long-term, intimate care for the elderly can be
effective in a post-disaster housing community.